A mutation in a gene may alter a cells?

Question

phenotype and genotype

or just one or the other?

I'm thinking its they both go hand in hand because the genotype is responsible for the phenotype...right?

Answer 1

Mutation is definitely an altered genotype. Phenotype may or may not be altered depending upon the changes brought about due to changed genotype.

Answer 2

a mutation will always alter a cell's genotype and sometimes its phenotype, but not always

Answer 3

More of a trick question.

If it is a base substitution, addition, or subtraction...

If it's corrected in time, no change to either phenotype or genotype.

If it isn't corrected, then there will definitely be a change in genotype BUT the phenotype might NOT change at all

Remember that even if the DNA code changes, it may still be coding for the same amino acid in the protein (each amino acid has more than one code in many cases).  As well, the mutation could have occurred in a non-coding region of the gene, or it occurs to a non-critical part of the protein which in this case, doesn't do anything to phenotype.

[Answer: see above]

Answer 4

A mutation itself is the change in genotype. The change in genotype may affect phenotype. But not always.