Frameshift mutations are typically more harmful than point mutations, as they alter the reading frame, affecting multiple amino acids.
The harmfulness of a mutation to an organism depends on various factors, but generally, frame-shift mutations tend to be more detrimental than point mutations.
Frame-shift mutations occur when the insertion or deletion of nucleotides alters the reading frame of the genetic code.
This alteration often leads to a completely different amino acid sequence downstream, affecting the synthesis of the corresponding protein.
Point mutations, on the other hand, involve the substitution of a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence.
While point mutations can still cause significant changes, they may not necessarily disrupt the entire reading frame, and their impact on protein structure and function can be less severe.
Frame-shift mutations have a more pronounced effect because they can introduce premature stop codons or drastically change the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
This can result in non-functional or malfunctioning proteins, which are crucial for the proper functioning of cells and organisms.
In contrast, point mutations may lead to a single amino acid change, which might have a milder impact on protein structure and function.
Overall, frame-shift mutations are generally considered more harmful due to their potential to cause more significant disruptions in protein synthesis.
Question
Which type of mutation would be more harmful to an organism and why?