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Causes of Mutation

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A mutation arises either spontaneously, from an uncorrected replication or repair error, or from exposure to a mutagen such as radiation.

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Ultraviolet radiation can damage DNA in a way nucleotide excision repair usually fixes, but occasionally leaves a mutation uncorrected.

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A mutagen increases mutation rate — it does not target a specific gene, and most mutagen-induced changes are still caught by repair.