Question

Explain how this genetic mutation can lead to a change in the structure and function of the protein

Answer 1

Answer:

A genetic mutation in DNA can lead to a change in the structure and function of the protein since this mutation passes through transcription to the mRNA —whose base sequence is altered— and in translation by the ribosomes, fewer or more or different amino acids are produced from this altered gene.

Explanation:

DNA is the nucleic acid that contains the genetic information of a living organism. When this molecule is affected by a mutation, the end result can be an alteration in the protein structure as well as in the protein function.

The molecular mutation consists of the change in the amount or sequence of bases that form the DNA. This alteration passes through mRNA transcription, with alteration in its normal nucleotide sequence. Since mRNA forms the codons that encode for amino acids, translation in the ribosomes produces

a protein that:

• Can be longer, if the mutation is by insertion or duplication.
• It can be shorter, if the mutation includes a deletion or encodes the early arrest of porein synthesis.
• Alteration of the amino acid sequence, when it is a frame mutation.
• Changes of an amino acid promoted by a subtitution of nitrogenous bases.

In any case, a mutation causes the RNA information to be altered, which can affect the protein structure, the protein function or both.