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 two main types of mutations?

Back

The two main types of mutations are point mutations and frameshift mutations.

Front

What is a point mutation?

Back

A point mutation is a change in a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence, which can result in a different amino acid being incorporated into a protein.

Front

What is a frameshift mutation?

Back

A frameshift mutation occurs when nucleotides are inserted or deleted from the DNA sequence, altering the reading frame of the genetic code.

Front

What causes frameshift mutations?

Back

Frameshift mutations are caused by insertions or deletions of nucleotides in the DNA sequence.

Front

What is the result of a frameshift mutation?

Back

The result of a frameshift mutation is often a completely different and nonfunctional protein due to the altered reading frame.

Front

What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?

Back

mRNA (messenger RNA) carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized.

Front

How is mRNA synthesized from DNA?

Back

mRNA is synthesized from DNA through a process called transcription, where the DNA sequence is copied into a complementary RNA sequence.

Front

What is a codon?

Back

A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid or stop signal during protein synthesis.

Front

What is the significance of the genetic code?

Back

The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in mRNA is translated into proteins, determining the amino acid sequence.