Final answer:
The mutation observed in about 60% of melanomas is a missense mutation in a gene related to skin pigmentation, affecting a single amino acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mutation seen in 60% of all melanomas is a specific change in the DNA of melanocytes, which are the pigment-producing cells in the skin. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, largely due to its tendency to spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early. A common mutation found in melanoma involves a particular gene that affects skin pigmentation, with a missense mutation altering a single amino acid.
People with the condition Xeroderma Pigmentosum are more prone to cancer because their DNA repair systems are less effective, allowing UV-induced damage, such as thymine dimers, to persist and potentially lead to cancerous changes.The mutation observed in about 60% of melanomas is a missense mutation in a gene related to skin pigmentation, affecting a single amino acid.