Mutations 2

Front

What is a mutation?

Back

Any change in the sequence of DNA.

Front

What type of mutation is characterized by the addition of one or more nucleotides in a DNA sequence?

Back

Insertion mutation.

Front

What is a frameshift mutation?

Back

A mutation that shifts the reading frame of the genetic message by inserting or deleting a nucleotide.

Front

What is the effect of a mutation in an expressed gene?

Back

It will most directly affect the structure of a cell's proteins.

Front

Why are insertion and deletion mutations considered harmful?

Back

They change all of the codons from the mutation on down the line, which changes the amino acid sequence.

Front

What is a nonsense mutation?

Back

A mutation that results in a premature stop codon in the protein sequence.

Front

What is a substitution mutation?

Back

A mutation where one nucleotide is replaced by another, potentially changing one amino acid in the protein.

Front

What is the difference between a deletion mutation and an insertion mutation?

Back

A deletion mutation removes one or more nucleotides, while an insertion mutation adds one or more nucleotides.

Front

What is the role of codons in mutations?

Back

Codons are sequences of three nucleotides that correspond to specific amino acids; mutations can alter these sequences.

Front

What can be the consequence of a nonsense mutation?

Back

It can lead to a nonfunctional protein due to the early termination of translation.