A mutation results in an enzyme that is partially active compared to the wild-type allele. This type of "leaky" mutation is classified as __________.
A)amorphic
B)hypomorphic
C)hypermorphic
D)neomorphic
E)dominant negative

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A hypomorphic mutation is one that reduces the activity of a gene or protein, but does not completely eliminate its function. This is in contrast to an amorphic mutation, which completely abolishes function, or a neomorphic mutation, which creates a new function for the protein. A hypermorphic mutation increases the activity of a gene or protein, and a dominant negative mutation interferes with the function of the wild-type allele even when only one copy of the mutation is present. Therefore, the most appropriate choice for a mutation that results in an enzyme that is partially active is a hypomorphic mutation.

A Mutation Results in an Enzyme That Is Partially Active