Final answer:
Silent mutations do not change the amino acid sequence, while missense mutations can change the sequence and potentially affect protein function.
Step-by-step explanation:
In genetics, silent mutations do not change the amino acid sequence of a protein, while missense mutations can change the amino acid sequence. Silent mutations occur when a substitution mutation happens in a non-coding region or in an exon that does not alter the final amino acid. Missense mutations, on the other hand, substitute one amino acid with another, potentially affecting protein function.
For example, if the DNA sequence ACA is mutated to AGA, which codes for the same amino acid (arginine), it is a silent mutation. However, if ACA is mutated to ACA, which codes for a different amino acid (threonine), it is a missense mutation.