Silent mutation

Silent mutation is a type of mutation that does not result in a change to the amino acid sequence of a protein. They are also known as synonymous mutations. Silent mutations can occur in the DNA sequence of a gene, but they do not change the function of the protein that is produced. This is because the genetic code is degenerate, meaning that multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.

Causes

Silent mutations are caused by a change in the nucleotide sequence of a gene. This can occur due to errors during DNA replication or due to exposure to mutagens. However, because the genetic code is degenerate, this change does not result in a change to the amino acid sequence of the protein.

Effects

Although silent mutations do not change the amino acid sequence of a protein, they can still have effects on the organism. For example, they can affect the speed at which a protein is produced, which can in turn affect the function of the protein. They can also affect mRNA stability and the efficiency of translation.

Examples

An example of a silent mutation is the sickle cell trait. This is caused by a single nucleotide change in the beta-globin gene, but it does not result in a change to the amino acid sequence of the protein. However, it does affect the shape of the red blood cells, which can lead to sickle cell disease.

See also

• Missense mutation
• Nonsense mutation
• Frameshift mutation

References

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