Genetic Mutations Quiz: Silent Mutations and More

What is the consequence of a frameshift mutation?

What is the result of a silent mutation?

How are frameshift mutations different from point mutations?

What happens to a gene if a frameshift mutation occurs?

Why do silent mutations often go unnoticed?

How do deletion and insertion mutations differ from silent mutations?

What is the effect of deleting three bases from a gene?

How does a frameshift mutation differ from a point deletion mutation?

Which type of chromosomal mutation involves doubling a part of the chromosome?

What is the impact of inversions and translocations on chromosomes?

Why can chromosomal rearrangements cause disorders in subsequent generations?

How do large-scale mutations differ from point mutations?

Silent Mutations

A silent mutation occurs when a base substitution does not change the amino acid it codes for
This is because multiple base groups can code for the same amino acid
For example, both AAA and AAG code for lysine, so a mutation from A to G would not affect the protein

Frameshift Mutations

Deletion and insertion mutations cause the remaining bases in the gene to shift, affecting subsequent codons
This can have severe consequences, such as a protein that is not made or does not function correctly
Frameshift mutations occur when the addition or deletion of a single base or bases in numbers not divisible by three causes a shift in codons
Inserting or deleting bases in numbers divisible by three does not cause a frameshift mutation

Large-Scale Mutations

Large-scale mutations affect a greater amount of genetic material than point mutations and often affect more than one gene
These mutations are called chromosomal mutations and include four types: deletion, duplication, inversion, and translocation
Deletion involves the loss of part of a chromosome, while duplication involves the doubling of part of a chromosome
Inversion occurs when a segment of a chromosome is rotated in the wrong direction, and translocation involves the transfer of a segment to a non-homologous chromosome
Inversions and translocations do not result in a loss or gain of genetic material, but can cause disorders in subsequent generations due to interference with proper chromosome pairing during meiosis

Test your knowledge on genetic mutations and silent mutations where multiple base groups can code for the same amino acid, resulting in no change to the protein. Learn about silent mutations that occur when one base is substituted for another, but the same amino acid is still produced.