Question

Explain the difference between each of the following substitution mutations:

Answer 1

Answer: silent mutation: a nucleotide base in a codon is replaced with a different base BUT the resulting amino acid isn’t affected.

Missense mutation: similar to a silent mutation, the only difference is that the switch of the nucleotide DOES result in a DIFFERENT amino acid

Nonsense mutation: a nucleotide base is changed, but that change results in a premature stop of translation

(Remember that after transcription, you are left with a strand of mRNA that Is then translated into a protein. The mRNA is read in increments of three nucleotide bases (A,U,G, or C) which is called a codon. That codon makes a single amino acid, and a strand of amino acids makes a protein)