Which mutation type involves the alteration of a single nucleotide?

Which mutation type involves the alteration of a single nucleotide?

• A. Frame shift mutation
• B. Point mutation
• C. Gene duplication
• D. Chromosomal alteration

Answer: (B)

A point mutation involves the alteration of a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence. This type of mutation can occur in several ways, including substitution, where one base is replaced by another, which can lead to changes in the amino acid sequence of a protein if it occurs within a coding region. Point mutations can affect gene function either by resulting in a nonfunctional protein or by not altering the protein at all, depending on the specific change and its location. In contrast, frameshift mutations involve insertions or deletions of nucleotides that do not occur in multiples of three, resulting in a shift in the reading frame during protein synthesis. This can dramatically alter the resulting protein structure and function. Gene duplication refers to the copying of entire segments of DNA, leading to additional genetic material, while chromosomal alterations involve larger scale changes affecting whole chromosomes or large segments, which can include deletions, duplications, or translocations but do not typically involve single nucleotide changes.

A point mutation involves the alteration of a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence. This type of mutation can occur in several ways, including substitution, where one base is replaced by another, which can lead to changes in the amino acid sequence of a protein if it occurs within a coding region. Point mutations can affect gene function either by resulting in a nonfunctional protein or by not altering the protein at all, depending on the specific change and its location.

In contrast, frameshift mutations involve insertions or deletions of nucleotides that do not occur in multiples of three, resulting in a shift in the reading frame during protein synthesis. This can dramatically alter the resulting protein structure and function. Gene duplication refers to the copying of entire segments of DNA, leading to additional genetic material, while chromosomal alterations involve larger scale changes affecting whole chromosomes or large segments, which can include deletions, duplications, or translocations but do not typically involve single nucleotide changes.