discuss what a frameshift mutation is. Why does it happen
ANSWER: A frameshift mutation means that a muation in a single nucleotide which leads to change or shift in all the future reading of the codons in the frame responsible for amino acid synthesis. This is possible since 3 bases make up a codon and one codon is responsible for one amino acid formation.
This frameshift mutation occurs because of insertion or deletion of the number of nucleotides not divisible by 3, from the DNA sequence.
Example 1:
NORMAL SEQUENCE: AUG CGA UUA UAC GGG Met- Arg-Leu-Tyr-Gly
AFTER INSERTION : AUG CGA UUA UUA CGG G Met-Arg-Leu-Leu-Arg
Example 2:
NORMAL SEQUENCE: AUG CGA UUA UAC GGG Met- Arg-Leu-Tyr-Gly
AFTER DELETION: AUG CGA UUA UAG GG Met- Arg-Leu-stop
Just because of insertion or deletion of one nucleotide, the whole frame of reading the codon shifts and all the amino acid formed after the mutation is changed.
Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 1 hours.