All people can be called mutants to one degree or another. But not the same as in X-Men or in the Marvel Universe - even a change in hair color, height, or facial structure can be attributed to mutations. The slightest change in our genes or our environment can lead to the development of traits that make us unique. And in some people, geneticists track specific mutations that are responsible for truly incredible abilities. For example, someone has an increased immunity to electricity, while others can act as a magnet for objects. All this became possible thanks to mutations, which are increasingly common with the development of technology.
What is mutation
Mutation is a change in the genome of an organism (one gene or several at once). Most often, mutations are understood as changes in the structure of DNA, which occurs due to a violation of the sequence of genes or the appearance of new ones.
Types of mutations
Mutations do not happen for any one reason. This is a whole process that becomes possible at the cellular level of the body. To date, scientists have identified 4 main types of mutations:
- Genetic;
- Chromosomal;
- Genomic;
- Cytoplasmic.
Scientists have come to the conclusion that most of the mutations are harmful, and nature is designed in such a way that, due to natural selection, they disappear from people on their own. However, mutations are also isolated that increase the vitality of the organism. Moreover, some changes in genes can be harmful in some environmental conditions, but useful in others.
Promotional video:
There are two subspecies of mutations:
- Spontaneous
- Induced
Spontaneous mutations occur by chance - for example, if a sheep with shorter legs is suddenly born in a flock of sheep. Or the appearance of a black zebra among ordinary ones, cats with white paws, and so on. Spontaneous mutations also occur in humans, and you may not even know that some changes are taking place in your body. They are most often "cosmetic" in nature and represent a change in the combination of genes.
The appearance of the black zebra was initially considered an anomaly and even linked to religion.
Induced mutations are "artificial" and arise under the influence of chemicals, various radiation, biological objects, such as viruses. Yes, these are the mutations that most comic book superheroes have - from Spider-Man to Wolverine (or Deadpool, for that matter).
Induced mutations in movies give superheroes super powers.
Gene mutations
This type of mutation usually affects only one specific gene. Gene mutations occur both when one gene is replaced by another, and when a gene falls out of the common chain, or when a section of the DNA molecule that affects one gene is flipped.
With a gene mutation, only one gene is changed.
Such mutations can be both spontaneous and induced: for example, the same black zebra became like this because the gene responsible for changing its color was replaced by another for a natural reason. Also, gene mutations occur during radiation, contact with chemicals or viruses.
Chromosomal mutations
Chromosomal mutations involve more than one gene. Such mutations are much more dangerous than just genes: if too many genes are subject to change, the cell can no longer divide and begins to self-destruct. There are cases when some people and animals died due to such mutations, since chromosomes in their cells were lost or doubled, which led to disruption of metabolic processes in the body.
Chromosomal mutations affect several genes at once.
With chromosomal mutations, both the loss of a chromosome section and the duplication of the chromosome, rotation of the chromosome section by 180 degrees, or even its movement to another place are possible. This leads to diseases of Prader-Willi (obesity, short stature and intelligence at the same time) and Wolf-Hirschhorn (mental retardation).
Deletion is the loss of a portion of the chromosome.
Duplication is the duplication of a portion of chromosomes.
Inversion is a 180 degree rotation of a chromosome section.
Translocation - movement of any part of the chromosome.
Genomic mutations
This type of mutation is even worse, since it affects not one or several genes, but the whole genome. The genomic type of mutations occurs as a result of errors in the divergence of chromosomes. Moreover, it is quite interesting: if the change in chromosomes is multiple, then the cells and internal organs increase in the body - such mutations were previously observed by scientists in some plants and animals.
Corn grows due to genomic mutation.
However, if the number of chromosomes does not change multiples, negative processes occur in the body. For example, a human is characterized by the trisomy 21 mutation: in this case, the twenty-first pair of chromosomes does not diverge, as a result, the child receives not the two twenty-first chromosomes, but three. This leads to the development of Down syndrome, as a result of which the child is mentally and physically disabled.
Cytoplasmic mutations
They arise due to a violation of the DNA of the mitochondria that make up the cells. These are some of the rarest mutations that are still poorly understood. However, scientists have already concluded that cytoplasmic mutations lead to visual impairment and problems with the central nervous system. There is a theory that this type of mutation is also responsible for the onset of diabetes.
Examples of mutations
Strongest bones in the world
For example, the LRP5 gene is responsible for bone density. Its mutation can lead to a decrease in bone density or, conversely, give you indestructible bones. One family in Connecticut, USA, appears to have LRP5 mutations that give their bones such a density that they are virtually indestructible. None of them have ever broken a bone. The increased strength of the bones, especially the spine, skull and pelvis, gives the members of this family the strongest skeletons on earth.
Would you like to never break your bones?
How to sleep 4 hours a day
Another gene, DEC2, is responsible for regulating the amount of sleep we need each night to function properly. Most of us need eight hours of sleep or more, but about 5% of the population enjoy a slightly different "mutant" version. Tests carried out on a mother and daughter who had mutations revealed the ability to sleep only 4-6 hours each night. Ordinary mortals began to experience negative consequences after a couple of days of such a dream, but mutants tolerate this quite normally. Now scientists want to copy this mutation for other people, but so far they have not been very successful.
Immunity to electricity
And some people, due to a gene mutation, are generally immune to electricity. The average person is covered with millions of sweat glands, which usually provide a convenient wet path for electric shock directly into our skin. However, one resident of Serbia does not have sweat or salivary glands due to a rare genetic disorder. This means that electricity cannot enter his body. He can recharge his phone, cook food, boil water, and even set fire to something by passing electricity through his body, which has set several records and appeared on several television shows.
For his ability, he received the nickname "battery man".
Poison immunity
For hundreds of years, residents of San Antonio de los Cobres in Argentina have drank mountain water, which has 80 times safe levels of arsenic. Despite extreme daily exposure to the deadly metal, residents remain completely healthy. And all thanks to the mutant AS3MT gene, which has gone through thousands of years of natural selection. It allows the body to process arsenic without allowing it to build up in dangerous concentrations, so the owners of these microscopic mutants can consume as much arsenic as they want.
Scientists continue to actively study mutations in humans and animals - some believe that this will help cure many diseases, while others are keen on the idea of creating a "superman". Due to mutations, he can be incredibly strong, run fast, be immune to electricity and poisons, and much more. However, no case is known yet that these mutations can coexist together. Yet real life is not a movie or a comic about superheroes, miracles do not happen here. Although some mutations can be attributed to them.
Alexander Bogdanov
