What Are Indels In Genetics?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,


A mutation named with the blend of insertion and deletion

. It refers to a length difference between two ALLELES where it is unknowable if the difference was originally caused by a SEQUENCE INSERTION or by a SEQUENCE DELETION.

What are INDELs in DNA?

Indel is a

molecular biology term for an insertion or deletion of bases in the genome of an organism

. … A microindel is defined as an indel that results in a net change of 1 to 50 nucleotides. In coding regions of the genome, unless the length of an indel is a multiple of 3, it will produce a frameshift mutation.

How do you identify INDELs?

Indels are the most common structural variant that contribute to pathogenesis of disease [2], gene expression and functionality. Current approaches to identify indels include

de-novo assembly of unaligned reads [

3], read splitting [4,5], depth of coverage analysis [6] and analysis of insert size inconsistencies.

How do INDELs affect genetic variation?

The amount of genetic variation that is caused by these small INDELs is substantial. The number of INDELs in human genomes is second only to the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and, in terms of base pairs of variation, INDELs cause

similar levels

of variation as SNPs.

What are SNPs and INDELs?

By definition,

an SNP changes a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence

, whereas an indel incorporates or removes one or more nucleotides (Loewe, 2008).

What are the 4 types of mutation?

  • Germline mutations occur in gametes. Somatic mutations occur in other body cells.
  • Chromosomal alterations are mutations that change chromosome structure.
  • Point mutations change a single nucleotide.
  • Frameshift mutations are additions or deletions of nucleotides that cause a shift in the reading frame.

What occurs in a deletion mutation?

A deletion mutation occurs when

a wrinkle forms on the DNA template strand and subsequently causes a nucleotide to be omitted from the replicated strand

(Figure 3). Figure 3: In a deletion mutation, a wrinkle forms on the DNA template strand, which causes a nucleotide to be omitted from the replicated strand.

Are exons genes?

An exon is

the portion of a gene that codes for amino acids

. In the cells of plants and animals, most gene sequences are broken up by one or more DNA sequences called introns.

What is polymorphism DNA?

Polymorphism

involves one of two or more variants of a particular DNA sequence

. The most common type of polymorphism involves variation at a single base pair. Polymorphisms can also be much larger in size and involve long stretches of DNA.

What are structural variants called?

Structural variation (SV) is generally defined as a region of DNA approximately 1 kb and larger in size and can include inversions and balanced translocations or genomic imbalances (insertions and deletions), commonly referred to as

copy number variants (CNVs)

.

Are indels random?

Asymmetric somatic hybridization induces genetic variation in a non-random manner. SNPs and small indels are two major natural genetic variation in organisms [41], so their rates determine the extent of genetic variation, and therefore, the strength of selection pressure.

Are indels mutations?

Insertions and deletions (indels) are one of

the most common class of mutations

in the human genome.

What is an SNV in genetics?

A

DNA sequence variation that occurs when a single nucleotide (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine) in the genome sequence is altered

. SNVs may be rare or common in a population. Sometimes SNVs are referred to as single nucleotide polymorphisms if they are present in at least 1% of the population.

How many microsatellites are in the human genome?

These repeats vary in size, complexity, and abundance in the genome: microsatellites are perhaps the simplest. Each microsatellite consist of a short motif (1–6 base pairs) repeated in tandem to form an array [2];

over 600,000 unique microsatellites

exist in the human genome [3, 4].

How does deletion affect protein structure?

Therefore, the residue removed in loops will dictate the structural rearrangements that occur rather than a general “whole loop” effect being observed. … This stands to reason given that deletions like substitutions, of an amino acid buried in the core of a protein can be

disruptive

to protein structure and function.

How do mutations occur?

​Mutation. A mutation is a change in a DNA sequence. Mutations can result from

DNA copying mistakes made during cell division

, exposure to ionizing radiation, exposure to chemicals called mutagens, or infection by viruses.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.