Question

A point mutation changes one nucleotide at a random location in human DNA. How likely is the mutation to cause a change In the amino acid sequence of a protein? Apply scientific reasoning to your prediction.

Answer 1

Answer: Very unlikely

Explanation:

Generally, point mutation can be easily reversed by another point mutation, so

before any changes occur in the amino acid sequence, it would have been corrected.

However, when point mutation occurs within the protein coding region of a gene it may results in the change of a single nucleotide to cause the substitution of a different amino acid (which renders the protein non-functional) as in the case of sickle-cell disease.

And this kind of point mutation is specifically called Missense mutation.

Above all, because point mutation is easily reversible, it is very unlikely to change the amino acid sequence of a protein