A genetic mutation can cause a change in the sequence of the 20 amino acids used to build proteins, which in turn affects the protein's structure. The correct answer is A) primary structure, but this will likely alter higher levels of structure as well.
Proteins are made up of chains of amino acids, and the specific sequence of these amino acids determines the protein's primary structure. The primary structure refers to the linear arrangement of amino acids in the protein chain.
When a genetic mutation occurs and alters the sequence of amino acids, it directly affects the protein's primary structure. This change in the primary structure can have significant implications for the protein's higher levels of structure, such as the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.
The secondary structure of a protein refers to local folding patterns, such as alpha helices and beta sheets. The tertiary structure refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of a protein, which is primarily determined by the interactions between different regions of the chain. The quaternary structure is relevant for proteins that consist of multiple polypeptide chains or subunits.
Since the primary structure forms the foundation for the higher levels of protein structure, a change in the amino acid sequence can disrupt the folding and interactions that define the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures. Therefore, a genetic mutation affecting the sequence of amino acids will likely alter not only the primary structure but also the higher levels of protein structure.
By selecting option A) primary structure, but this will likely alter higher levels of structure as well, you accurately identify the consequences of a genetic mutation on a protein's structure.