DNA Mutations

Front

What is a DNA mutation?

Back

A DNA mutation is a change in the nucleotide sequence of an organism's DNA, which can lead to changes in the structure and function of proteins.

Front

What are the main types of DNA mutations?

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The main types of DNA mutations are substitution, insertion, deletion, and frameshift mutations.

Front

What is a substitution mutation?

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

Front

What is an insertion mutation?

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

Front

What is a deletion mutation?

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

Front

What is a frameshift mutation?

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A frameshift mutation occurs when nucleotides are inserted or deleted from the DNA sequence, causing a shift in the reading frame of the codons.

Front

What are codons?

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Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that correspond to specific amino acids or stop signals during protein synthesis.

Front

What is the effect of a frameshift mutation on protein synthesis?

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A frameshift mutation can alter the entire amino acid sequence downstream of the mutation, potentially leading to nonfunctional 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 resulting protein.

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What is the difference between insertion and duplication mutations?

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Insertion mutations add extra nucleotides to the DNA sequence, while duplication mutations involve the copying of a segment of DNA, resulting in repeated sequences.