Question
Which of the following are harmful effects due to gene mutation?
Antibiotic resistance and bone density
Cystic fibrosis and lactose intolerance
Malarial resistance and red hair
Silent mutation and attached earlobes
Antibiotic resistance and bone density
Cystic fibrosis and lactose intolerance
Malarial resistance and red hair
Silent mutation and attached earlobes
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Gene mutations can lead to various effects, some of which can be harmful. Below is an analysis of the examples provided, focusing on harmful effects:
1. **Antibiotic resistance and bone density**: Antibiotic resistance is a harmful effect due to mutations in bacteria that allow them to survive treatments. Bone density is generally influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, but bone density itself is not a direct harmful effect of gene mutation.
2. **Cystic fibrosis and lactose intolerance**: Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, leading to serious health problems. Lactose intolerance is a common condition resulting from the absence of the lactase enzyme, and while it can cause discomfort and nutritional concerns, it is not typically classified as harmful in the same way as cystic fibrosis.
3. **Malarial resistance and red hair**: Malarial resistance (such as in individuals with the sickle cell trait) can provide some protection against malaria but is associated with sickle cell disease, which is a serious and harmful condition. Red hair is a result of mutations related to pigmentation and is not harmful.
4. **Silent mutation and attached earlobes**: Silent mutations do not change the amino acid sequence of a protein and generally do not result in harmful effects. Attached earlobes are simply a genetic trait and are also not harmful.
### Summary of harmful effects due to gene mutation:
- **Cystic fibrosis** is a clear harmful effect due to gene mutation.
- **Antibiotic resistance** can also be considered a harmful effect in the context of pathogens.
Thus, the most clearly harmful examples from the provided options are **cystic fibrosis** and aspects of antibiotic resistance, while the others mostly relate to traits or conditions that are not harmful in a medical context.
1. **Antibiotic resistance and bone density**: Antibiotic resistance is a harmful effect due to mutations in bacteria that allow them to survive treatments. Bone density is generally influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, but bone density itself is not a direct harmful effect of gene mutation.
2. **Cystic fibrosis and lactose intolerance**: Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, leading to serious health problems. Lactose intolerance is a common condition resulting from the absence of the lactase enzyme, and while it can cause discomfort and nutritional concerns, it is not typically classified as harmful in the same way as cystic fibrosis.
3. **Malarial resistance and red hair**: Malarial resistance (such as in individuals with the sickle cell trait) can provide some protection against malaria but is associated with sickle cell disease, which is a serious and harmful condition. Red hair is a result of mutations related to pigmentation and is not harmful.
4. **Silent mutation and attached earlobes**: Silent mutations do not change the amino acid sequence of a protein and generally do not result in harmful effects. Attached earlobes are simply a genetic trait and are also not harmful.
### Summary of harmful effects due to gene mutation:
- **Cystic fibrosis** is a clear harmful effect due to gene mutation.
- **Antibiotic resistance** can also be considered a harmful effect in the context of pathogens.
Thus, the most clearly harmful examples from the provided options are **cystic fibrosis** and aspects of antibiotic resistance, while the others mostly relate to traits or conditions that are not harmful in a medical context.