Question

DNA mutations that do not cause any functional change in the protein product are known as

• A. Nonsense mutations
• B. Missense mutations
• C. Deletion mutations
• D. Silent mutations

Answer 1

The correct option is D Silent mutations

A point mutation in a sequence of DNA causing premature stop codon in the transcribing mRNA is known as nonsense mutation. It results in premature termination of translation and the resulting shortened protein is either non-functional or less functional which makes option A wrong. A point mutation that changes a codon specifying a different amino acid is called as a missense mutation. It can alter the protein activity to the severity that can cause a disease like sickle cell anemia, option B is wrong. Removal of one or more nucleotide bases to the DNA segment is known as deletion. It can remove one to many nucleotide bases from the DNA resulting in shortening of the encoded proteins which are mostly non-functional which makes option C wrong. A mutation causing no change in the amino acid and hence, no effect on the function of the protein is called as the silent mutation

So, the correct answer is 'Silent mutations'