What is a mutation and how can it affect a protein?

What is a mutation and how can it affect a protein?

• A. A mutation is a change in DNA; it can alter amino acid sequence, structure, or function.
• B. A mutation is a change in RNA; it always improves protein function.
• C. A mutation duplicates a protein; it increases stability but never harms.
• D. A mutation is a change in lipid membrane composition; it rarely affects proteins.

Answer: (A)

Mutations are changes in DNA, the instructions that build proteins. Because the sequence of DNA determines the order of amino acids in a protein, a change in the DNA code can lead to a different amino acid being added during translation. That altered sequence can disrupt how the protein folds into its three‑dimensional shape, affect its stability, or change how it binds to other molecules, all of which can modify the protein’s function. Some mutations don’t change the amino acid sequence at all (silent mutations), so they may not affect the protein. But in general, mutations have the potential to change a protein’s structure and function because they alter the information that specifies the protein.

Mutations are changes in DNA, the instructions that build proteins. Because the sequence of DNA determines the order of amino acids in a protein, a change in the DNA code can lead to a different amino acid being added during translation. That altered sequence can disrupt how the protein folds into its three‑dimensional shape, affect its stability, or change how it binds to other molecules, all of which can modify the protein’s function. Some mutations don’t change the amino acid sequence at all (silent mutations), so they may not affect the protein. But in general, mutations have the potential to change a protein’s structure and function because they alter the information that specifies the protein.