Question #fed91
1 Answer
It can cause a change in the structure and therefore function of the protein synthesized by the gene which has been mutated.
Explanation:
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases in DNA.
A codon is a three-base sequence of DNA or RNA that codes for an amino acid.
Proteins are made up of amino acids and their function is dependent on their 3-dimensional shape. When a mutation occurs, it will change at least one codon, and the new codon it creates can code for a different amino acid to the one the previous codon coded for. (The genetic code is degenerate, meaning that multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. A mutation which doesn't change the protein which is synthesized by the gene is known as a silent mutation)
When a mutation causes a different amino acid to be coded for, the primary structure of the protein will be changed, and this can affect the overall 3-d structure of the protein. The protein will not function normally and can affect the structure and function of an organism by interfering with one or more essential processes.
