The insertion of how many nucleotides into a genetic sequence does less damage to the code than the insertion of other numbers of nucleotides?
A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4
E)5

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The insertion of 3 nucleotides is the best choice because it adds a whole codon to the sequence. A codon is a three-nucleotide sequence that codes for a specific amino acid in a protein. If a single nucleotide is inserted, it will result in a frameshift mutation, altering the entire sequence downstream of the insertion. The insertion of 2 or 4 nucleotides will also cause a frameshift mutation, but the addition of 3 nucleotides will at least add a new codon and minimize the effects of the mutation.

The Insertion of How Many Nucleotides into a Genetic Sequence