Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a type of mutation that affects only a single base pair in DNA?
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15. Gene Expression
Mutations
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Which type of mutation has the potential to be most dangerous to an organism?
A
Nonsense mutation
B
Silent mutation
C
Missense mutation
D
Neutral mutation
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the types of mutations: Silent mutations do not change the amino acid sequence of a protein, missense mutations result in a different amino acid, nonsense mutations create a premature stop codon, and neutral mutations have no effect on the organism's fitness.
Consider the impact of each mutation type on protein synthesis: Silent mutations typically have no effect, missense mutations can alter protein function, nonsense mutations can lead to incomplete proteins, and neutral mutations generally do not affect the organism.
Evaluate the consequences of a nonsense mutation: A premature stop codon can truncate the protein, potentially leading to loss of function, which can be detrimental to the organism.
Compare the potential dangers: Nonsense mutations often have more severe effects compared to silent, missense, and neutral mutations because they can result in nonfunctional proteins.
Conclude that nonsense mutations are generally considered the most dangerous due to their ability to disrupt protein synthesis significantly.
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