While many body cells only replicate 40 to 60 times, cells that produce certain white blood cells may replicate many more times. It is, therefore, crucial that proofreading and repair occur so that the transfer of biological information is accurate. On the other hand, absolute accuracy in replication of biological information would cancel out mutations that are the raw material of evolution. Why is accuracy in transcription and translation less critical than accuracy in gene replication?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A mutation in a gene will be passed down to future generations of the cell and, in some instances, to future generations of organisms. If the mutation is detrimental, then all cells and/or organisms receiving the mutation will be adversely affected. If errors occur in transcription and translation, the gene product (protein) may be altered and may even be nonfunctional. If the DNA is unaltered, however, with the next occurrence of transcription and translation, the protein would be normal. Therefore, the effect of errors in transcription and translation are limited to that particular event and not to future generations. Each gene can make many mRNAs which can make many proteins, so errors in a single mRNA or protein don't generally matter very much.