Question

A mutation may:

Select one:
a. Eliminate the ability of a protein to function
b. Not alter the functional ability of a protein
c. Improve the function of a protein
d. All of the above are correct
e. None of the above are correct

Answer 1

Mutations can eliminate, not alter, or improve the function of proteins. The impact could range from silent mutations having no effect to missense or nonsense mutations that can cause diseases by disrupting protein function.

Step-by-step explanation:

A mutation may have a variety of effects on a protein, including:

• Eliminating the ability of a protein to function, typically through a nonsense mutation or a frameshift resulting in a non-functional protein.
• Not altering the functional ability of a protein, often the case in silent mutations where there is no change to the amino acid sequence of the protein.
• Improving the function of a protein, which, while rare, can provide a selective advantage under certain environmental conditions.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is d. All of the above are correct. Mutations can result in proteins being made incorrectly, with effects ranging from harmless to detrimental.