Mutagenic Effects of Uv Light Essay Example
University Of Botswana
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIO111: Laboratory Exercise 8
The Mutagenic Effects of UV Light
Name: sharon reakae
INTRODUCTION
A mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence of a gene. Mutation rates are usually very low but there are factors that can increase the mutation rates. These factors are referred to as mutagens and conclude a range of physic-chemical agents. UV light is a mutagen that affects all living things and has an adverse effect on the replication process of DNA within cells(.Leonard,2002) In this experiment we examine the effects of UV light on the growth of different bacteria. Cells are exposed to this radiation for different time intervals to also examine the sensitivity of each cell to each light. The exercise answers questions as to why he lid on the petri dish was removed during exposure time an analyse whether the cells test were equally sensitive to UV light and we also explore the relationship UV has with the time of exposure. The bacteria exposed to UV light for longer would either multiply very insignificantly or not multiply at all and also the different bacteria species have different sensitivity levels to this kind of radiation. We can conclude or draw a hypothesis that UV light is a mutagen that inhibits the DNA replication process that gives rise to cell division thus cell growth or multiplication.
According to Keary,P.S.(1994) a genome increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. Not all mutations are caused by mutagens. Electromagnetic waves shorter than visible light, including UV, gamma rays and x-rays are mutagenic. Ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma –radiation are the radiations most frequently used in the experimental production of mutations. These radiations also occur naturally are responsible for most of the spontaneous mutations. Ultraviolet radiations, with a wavelength of about 254 nm are strongly adsorbed by DNA and they exert their effect by the
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIO111: Laboratory Exercise 8
The Mutagenic Effects of UV Light
Name: sharon reakae
INTRODUCTION
A mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence of a gene. Mutation rates are usually very low but there are factors that can increase the mutation rates. These factors are referred to as mutagens and conclude a range of physic-chemical agents. UV light is a mutagen that affects all living things and has an adverse effect on the replication process of DNA within cells(.Leonard,2002) In this experiment we examine the effects of UV light on the growth of different bacteria. Cells are exposed to this radiation for different time intervals to also examine the sensitivity of each cell to each light. The exercise answers questions as to why he lid on the petri dish was removed during exposure time an analyse whether the cells test were equally sensitive to UV light and we also explore the relationship UV has with the time of exposure. The bacteria exposed to UV light for longer would either multiply very insignificantly or not multiply at all and also the different bacteria species have different sensitivity levels to this kind of radiation. We can conclude or draw a hypothesis that UV light is a mutagen that inhibits the DNA replication process that gives rise to cell division thus cell growth or multiplication.
According to Keary,P.S.(1994) a genome increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. Not all mutations are caused by mutagens. Electromagnetic waves shorter than visible light, including UV, gamma rays and x-rays are mutagenic. Ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma –radiation are the radiations most frequently used in the experimental production of mutations. These radiations also occur naturally are responsible for most of the spontaneous mutations. Ultraviolet radiations, with a wavelength of about 254 nm are strongly adsorbed by DNA and they exert their effect by the