Chapter 15: Mutations

Question 0

Distinguish between missense and nonsense mutations.

Answer 0

Missense changes the mRNA in a way that changes the amino acid produced in translation.

Nonsense causes a stop codon, ending translation.

Question 1

Defin mutation and point mutation

Answer 1

Mutation is a change to the genetic material.

A Point Mutation is a single base substitution, or a mutation that changes a single base in the DNA sequence, not causing a frame shift.

Question 2

Why are insertions or deletions more deleterious than a substitution?

Answer 2

Because they cause a frame shift, changing the reading frame of the rest of the mRNA.