Which point mutation would be most likely to have a catastrophic effect?
A) A base insertion near the end of the coding sequence
B) The deletion of three bases near the start of the coding sequence
C) A base deletion near the end of the coding sequence
D) A base deletion near the start of the coding sequence
E) A base substitution

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A base deletion near the start of the coding sequence can cause a frameshift mutation, altering the entire amino acid sequence downstream of the mutation, potentially leading to a nonfunctional protein. This can have more severe effects compared to the other options, which might result in less drastic changes to the protein structure or function.

Which Point Mutation Would Be Most Likely to Have a Catastrophic