Question

If a nucleotide is deleted during the transcription process this event would most likely lead to:

A. no change in the protein.
B. the destruction of the correct reading frame.
C. an mRNA without a cap.
D. a DNA gene with the incorrect base pairs

Answer 1

A deletion of a nucleotide during transcription would most likely destroy the correct reading frame, leading to a frameshift mutation that could result in a nonfunctional protein.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nucleotide is deleted during the transcription process, this event would most likely lead to the destruction of the correct reading frame. A deletion of even a single nucleotide can cause what is known as a frameshift mutation, because the genetic code is read in sets of three bases, known as codons. When one base is missing, all the subsequent codons will be read incorrectly, which often results in a completely different sequence of amino acids, potentially creating a nonfunctional protein or causing an early stop to the protein synthesis. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is B. the destruction of the correct reading frame.