What term is used for alterations in DNA that can potentially alter the function of genes?

The term that describes alterations in DNA which can potentially change the function of genes is mutation. Mutations can occur in various forms, such as point mutations (where a single nucleotide is altered), insertions, deletions, or larger chromosomal changes. These changes in the DNA sequence can affect how genes are expressed, potentially leading to changes in traits or causing genetic disorders. Because mutations directly involve the alterations of the genetic code, they are fundamental to the processes of evolution, genetic variability, and even disease.

In this context, gene therapy refers to a technique that aims to treat or prevent disease by altering the genes within an individual's cells, but it is not a term that encompasses the concept of changes occurring in the DNA itself. Recombination is a process that can occur during cell division (such as meiosis), involving the reshuffling of genetic material which contributes to genetic diversity but does not specifically denote changes in the DNA sequence affecting gene function. Transcription, on the other hand, is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, and while it is essential for gene expression, it is not related to changes in the DNA sequences themselves.