DNA Mutations

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What is a mutation?

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A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to changes in the structure and function of proteins.

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What is a silent mutation?

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A silent mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that does not alter the amino acid sequence of the protein.

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What is a codon?

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A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid.

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What is the significance of the first two bases in a codon?

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The first two bases of a codon are crucial for determining which amino acid is coded for, while the third base can often vary without changing the amino acid.

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What is a deletion mutation?

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A deletion mutation occurs when one or more nucleotides are removed from the DNA sequence.

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What is an insertion mutation?

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An insertion mutation occurs when one or more nucleotides are added to the DNA sequence.

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What is a frameshift mutation?

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A frameshift mutation is caused by insertions or deletions that change the reading frame of the genetic code.

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What is a substitution mutation?

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A substitution mutation occurs when one nucleotide is replaced by another in the DNA sequence.

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What is a nonsense mutation?

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A nonsense mutation is a type of substitution mutation that creates a premature stop codon, leading to a truncated protein.

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How can DNA sequences be used in biology?

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DNA sequences can be used to determine relationships between organisms, study evolutionary biology, and identify genetic disorders.