Question

Which mutation in DNA would lead to the change of a single amino acid in a protein?

1) Substitution mutation
2) Insertion mutation
3) Deletion mutation
4) Frameshift mutation

Answer 1

A substitution mutation leads to the change of a single amino acid in a protein, potentially causing small changes in the protein structure without radical alterations in function.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of mutation in DNA that would lead to the change of a single amino acid in a protein is a substitution mutation. In a substitution mutation, a single nucleotide is replaced by a different nucleotide, which can alter the codon to encode a different amino acid, leading to a change in the protein's composition. While this can result in a small change in the protein's structure, it may not always have a radical effect on the protein’s function. On the other hand, frameshift mutations, caused by insertion or deletion of nucleotides, often lead to more significant changes. They alter the reading frame of the genetic sequence, usually resulting in a completely altered amino acid sequence downstream from the mutation, which can significantly affect protein functionality.