Question

In what way might a point mutation in dna make a difference in the function of a protein?

Answer 1

A point mutation in DNA can lead to a missense mutation that changes an amino acid and potentially alters protein function or a nonsense mutation that truncates the protein, generally rendering it non-functional. Missense mutations can sometimes lead to conditions like sickle cell anemia due to impaired protein function.

Step-by-step explanation:

A point mutation in DNA can significantly alter the function of a protein. One type of point mutation is a missense mutation, which leads to the incorporation of a different amino acid into the polypeptide. This alteration can have profound effects if the new amino acid has different chemical properties or is located in a vital region of the protein, such as the active site of an enzyme.

In some cases, the protein may still function partially, known as a conditional mutation, or the mutation might confer a selective advantage under certain conditions. On the other hand, a nonsense mutation can transform a codon into a stop codon, leading to a truncated and usually non-functional protein. Diseases like sickle cell anemia arise from missense mutations that change a protein's structure, leading to impaired function and health issues.

Answer 2

A point mutation can either be silent, missense, or nonsense. In silent mutations, the codon is changed but the encoded amino acid is not changed. This is because different codons code for the same amino acids. Missense mutations will have a significant effect on the protein because the amino acid is replaced by another. A nonsense mutation will result to a fragmented protein because the mutation will lead to the formation of a stop codon which will stop the translation process.