Question

Which statement accurately describes the consequences of a frame-shift mutation in DNA?

a) A frame-shift mutation changes the sequence of nitrogen bases in mRNA.
b) The protein sequence is altered due to the change in the reading order of hydrogen bonds in DNA after the shift.
c) Frame-shift mutations affect the types of sugars in DNA, shifting these sugars to the right.
d) Frame-shift mutations do not directly impact the chemistry of phosphate groups in a strand of mRNA.

Answer 1

A frame-shift mutation alters the protein sequence by changing the reading frame of DNA, resulting in a different translation that often produces non-functional proteins.

Step-by-step explanation:

The consequence of a frame-shift mutation in DNA is that the protein sequence is altered due to the change in the reading order of codons in DNA after the mutation. Such mutations occur due to insertions or deletions of nucleotides that are not evenly divisible by three, which disrupt the triplet nature of gene expression. The result is a different translation from the original, which can lead to non-functional proteins, especially if they occur early in the sequence.