Term for Sudden Heritable Change in Genetic Material

Sudden heritable change in genetic material is known as:

Correct Answer: Mutation

Mutation is a sudden heritable change in genetic material. The term 'mutation' was coined by Hugo de Vries, who also proposed the mutation theory of evolution in Oenothera lamarckiana (Evening primrose).

Types of Mutation

• Chromosomal mutation: (a) Heteroploidy — Euploidy, Aneuploidy; (b) Chromosomal aberration
• Gene mutation: (a) Substitution — Transition, Transversion; (b) Frame shift mutation

Key Distinction

• Transition: Replacement of purine by purine OR pyrimidine by pyrimidine.
• Transversion: Replacement of purine by pyrimidine OR vice versa.

Mutation is also the ultimate source of new alleles and multiple alleles are produced by mutation.