Final answer:
Frameshift mutations caused by indels that change the reading frame often result in a nonfunctional protein. Nonsense mutations lead to truncated proteins and are generally harmful, more so if they occur toward the beginning of the gene. Missense mutations can vary in their effect, potentially allowing partial function of the protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing which mutation might have the worst effect on the function of a protein, it's important to understand how each type could impact the protein's structure and function. A frameshift mutation caused by an insertion or deletion (indel) that is not in multiples of three will change the reading frame, resulting in every amino acid downstream of the mutation being altered, which typically creates a nonfunctional protein.
A nonsense mutation converts an amino acid codon into a stop codon, resulting in a premature end to the protein. The closer this mutation is to the beginning of the gene, the more truncated and likely nonfunctional the protein will be.
In contrast, a missense mutation changes just one amino acid in the protein, and its effects can vary. Sometimes, these proteins retain partial function, depending on the importance of the changed amino acid. An insertion or deletion near the end of a gene would likely have a lesser effect, especially if it is in multiples of three, as this may not affect the reading frame significantly.