Which statement about synonymous mutations is true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Synonymous mutations are silent mutations that do not change the amino acid sequence of a protein. They can occur because of the redundancy of the genetic code, where different codons can code for the same amino acid. Therefore, the protein structure and function are usually not affected by synonymous mutations. However, they can still have evolutionary significance, as they may affect the rate of translation and protein folding, and they can also be used as molecular markers in population genetics studies. Compared to nonsynonymous substitutions, synonymous mutations usually evolve more slowly because they are under less selective pressure.

Which Statement About Synonymous Mutations Is True