Which of the following DNA mutations is most likely to damage the protein it specifies?
A) a base-pair deletion
B) an addition of three nucleotides
C) a substitution in the last base of a codon
D) a codon deletion

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A base-pair deletion would cause a frameshift mutation and alter the reading frame of the downstream codons, leading to changes in the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein. This would likely result in a significantly altered or non-functional protein. Option B is a frameshift mutation as well, but it could also lead to a protein with an additional amino acid, which may or may not affect its function. Option C is a silent mutation that would not affect the resulting amino acid sequence, and option D may cause the loss of an amino acid, but the effect on protein function would depend on the specific amino acid and location within the protein.

Which of the Following DNA Mutations Is Most Likely to Damage