Question

What is a frameshift mutation? Give an example.

Answer 1

Mutation:

The mutation is a rapid and heritable change in the sequence of an organism's genome that results in alternate variants of any gene.

Frameshift mutation:

1. A frameshift mutation is a genetic mutation caused by a deletion or insertion in a DNA sequence that shifts the way the sequence is read.
2. The shift in the reading frame is caused by the addition or deletion of one or more nucleotides, which may result in a modification in the amino acid sequence during protein translation.

Example:

Two frameshift mutations in the CFTR genes cause cystic fibrosis (one involves the insertion of two nucleotides, and the other involves the deletion of one nucleotide).