Genetic Lab Criteria

Mutations are random permanent changes in the genome of an organism that may or may not result in phenotypical variation. Mutations can be stimulated by external events such as exposure to ionizing radiation as well as internal events such as errors in DNA replication like double strand breaks. In lab, we focused on mutations that exhibit phenotypic advantage or disadvantage to an organism in their respective habitats. The necessity of higher or lower mutation rates will vary based on whether the organism is in need of mutations to survive. Within this scope, different of resource, climate, and predator-based conditions will benefit high mutating strains and low mutating strains of the same species, respectively.

I will use E. coli as an example species since it is the organism with which we …show more content…
External conditions could benefit both strains of the species. The high or low mutating characteristic would only be passed on if E. coli is able to reproduce. In order to reproduce the E. coli must have an environment with plentiful resources, few predators, and an optimum climate. If one or more of these conditions are not present, mutations may be necessary for survival and reproduction. For example, if some strain of E. coli needs glucose to survive but only maltose is present, a mutation that gives it the ability to digest maltose or convert maltose to glucose will aid in survival and reproduction. However, since mutations aren’t tailored to the environment, in such conditions a high mutating strain would be more likely to survive than a low mutating strain as it would have a greater chance of developing a mutation that would help it survive. But, all mutations are not beneficial. So, in a more comfortable environment with optimum conditions, a low mutating strain may survive better than a high mutating strain that has a far greater chance of undergoing deleterious