Question

What are silent point mutations?

Answer 1

Point mutations:

1. Mutations occurring due to a change in a single base pair of DNA are called point mutations.
2. Sickle cell anemia is caused due to a point mutation.
3. The cause of sickle cell anemia is the substitution of glutamic acid with valine at the 6th position of the beta-globin chain of hemoglobin.

Silent point mutations:

1. When a single base substitution does not change the amino acid it codes for, then it is called a silent mutation.
2. For instance, AAA mutated to AAG is a silent mutation as both code for the amino acid lysine, thereby having no effect.