Question

A bacterium was found to contain a sequence of ATCGGGATCCT in its genome. A few generations later, the sequence was found to be ATCGGGGGGATCCT. What type of mutation caused this change in the bacteria?

1.deletion
2.duplication
3.insertion
4.inversion

Answer 1

I think it would be insertion due to the fact that there are more in the second one than in the first.

Answer 2

The correct answer is insertion

Insertion can be defined as the addition of one or more nucleotide base pairs into a DNA sequence. It can leads to change in the codon sequence of a DNA, known as frameshift mutation as it changes the order of nucleotide sequence that codes for a specific protein. By this way, it can be detrimental as it leads to formation of non-functional or mutated protein.

As in the mutated sequence shows addition of four extra guanine bases (ATCGGGGGGATCCT) in the original sequence (ATCGGGATCCT), it represents the insertion mutation.