Mutations for Jr. High Students

 A mutation is a change in your DNA that may or may not have an effect on your body. The most common mutation that happens everyday is called a point mutation. This is where one nucleotide (A,T,G,C) in your DNA code is changed. Every three nucleotides makes up a codon, and each codon makes up an amino acid, so a point mutation can completely change your amino acid makeup.

Let's take for example Jiangshi sanguina, a type of carnivorous, nocturnal rabbit. This rabbit usually has black fur, but if a point mutation occurs in it's genetic code that changes the amino acid sequence, the rabbit will have light fur. This is disadventagous as it is a noctural creature that needs the ability to blend into the night in order to hunt it's prey. 

Because rabbits are so small, and are neither venomous or poisonous, these creatures are fairly defenseless against larger predators such as wolves or large dogs. If the ability to blend in is lost, this puts the rabbit on a silver platter for larger predators, which could lead to extinction if the mutation were to be passed down to offspring.