Calculate the number of mismatches that could occur in one human cell during one

Question

Calculate the number of mismatches that could occur in one human cell during one round of replication in the absence of mismatch repair. Assume that mismatch repair decreases the number of mutations by a factor of 1000.
Express your answer using two significant figures.

Calculate the number of mismatches that could occur in one human cell during one round of replication. Assume the size of the human genome is 3.2 billion base pairs. Assume the error rate is 1 mismatch per 10^10 bp.
Express your answer using two significant figures.

Explanation / Answer

Every time a human cell divides, its entire genome of 3 × 109 base pairs must be copied. DNA replication is extremely accurate, but mistakes do occur, and sometimes the incorrect nucleotide is incorporated into the growing DNA sequence, giving rise to a mismatch.

It is estimated that, without external influences, base pairing would allow more than 1% incorporation of incorrect nucleotides during replication.

1% of 3 × 109 will be equal to 3 * 107

if one mismatch occurs in 10^10 base pairs. then there will e 3.2 mismatches in 3.2 X 10^10 bps

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