Final answer:
A frameshift mutation is a type of mutation that occurs when extra base pairs are added or removed from a gene, causing a shift in the reading frame. This can lead to the production of a completely different and potentially nonfunctional protein. Frameshift mutations that result in the insertion of three nucleotides can be less deleterious compared to single-nucleotide insertions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A frameshift mutation is a type of mutation that occurs when extra base pairs are added (insertion) or removed (deletion) from a gene. This causes a shift in the reading frame of the genetic code, which can have serious consequences. Frameshifts can alter every subsequent codon and may also create stop codons, leading to the production of a completely different and potentially nonfunctional protein.
For example, let's consider the sentence analogy. Imagine the sentence: "The big dog ate the red cat." If you remove the second letter from the word "big", the frame will be shifted, and the sentence will become unreadable: "The bgd oga tet her edc at." Similarly, a frameshift mutation can disrupt the reading frame of the gene, resulting in a nonfunctional or altered protein.
A frameshift mutation that results in the insertion of three nucleotides is often less deleterious compared to a mutation that results in the insertion of just one nucleotide. This is because the addition of three nucleotides restores the reading frame and allows the protein to be synthesized correctly to some extent. On the other hand, an insertion of just one nucleotide can have a more severe impact on the protein's structure and function.