What happens if the DNA polymerase makes a mistake?

Answer 1

The answer to this question is simple. A mutation would occur. Believe it or not, mutations occur in your body all the time. Even so, most mutations are harmless, because 97% of DNA is absolutely useless, and does nothing in your body.

Answer 2

Most DNA polymerases contain a proof reading and endonuclease ability.

If a base has been paired incrroectly, the DNA molecule will adopt a slightly unusual shape (since the bases will either be two purines or two pyrimidines, so the pair will either be too large or too small). A region (subunit) of the polymerase enzyme soon after the polymerase catalytic site will recognise the strange shape and cut the base back off using its endonuclease function. The polymerase can then try again to insert the correct base and move on.

Answer 3

There are several different types of DNA polymerase and some have an error correcting capability. This is a result of "proofreading."

Error rates in transcription are low but vary widely. It is reasonable to estimate one mistake in a million. The proofreading process effectively addresses this and decreases the transcription errors by a factor of a hundred or more.

There is additional information in the related links.

Answer 4

DNA polymerase stops, backs up and fixes the mistake.

Answer 5

Mutation occurs, if a mutation is ressesive it is not expressed in the phenotype, if however it is dominant when passed on in the offspring it is expressed in the phenotype.

Answer 6

A spontaneous mutation will occur.

Answer 7

mutaion