Final answer:
A nonsense mutation results in changing a codon for an amino acid into a stop codon, leading to premature protein synthesis termination and the release of a truncated, often nonfunctional protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nonsense mutation is a specific type of mutation in which a codon coding for an amino acid is changed into a stop codon (UAA, UAG, or UGA). This results in the premature termination of the protein synthesis process, leading to the release of an incomplete and typically non-functional protein. The stop codons are also known as nonsense codons, and they signal the end of translation, releasing the polypeptide chain from the ribosome. The AUG codon serves a dual function as both the start codon, signaling the beginning of protein synthesis, and coding for the amino acid methionine. The disruption caused by a nonsense mutation can have significant implications for the resulting protein and its function within the cell.