Question

What would be the effect of a mutation in the coding region of the lactase gene?

Answer 1

Lactase refers to an enzyme that can dissociate lactose sugar into glucose and galactose. This enzyme plays an important role in the digestion of milk that comprises high lactose sugar. In case, if a mutation occurs in the gene codon of lactase, then two possibilities can take place. These are as follows:  

1. Loss of mutation: In this case, the person becomes lactose intolerant because of mutation in lactase gene codon. Due to this, there is low mRNA expression and thus low production of the enzyme lactase. This is also known as lactase non-persistent phenotype.  

2. Gain in mutation: In this case, the person gain an increase in mRNA expression of the lactase gene, thus more production of lactase takes place than usual. This kind of individual exhibits lactase persistent phenotype.