Question

Which mutation is always unnoticed in any organism?

• A. Nonsense mutation
• B. Frame-shift mutation
• C. Mis-sense mutation
• D. Silent mutation

Hint:

Look for options that result in no change to the protein's amino acids.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Concept
Types of mutations and their effects on the genetic code

Step 2: Meaning
Understanding different types of mutations and how they impact the genetic sequence can help in identifying which ones do not alter the resulting protein product.

Step 3: Analysis
A) Nonsense mutation introduces a premature stop codon, leading to truncated proteins. B) Frame-shift mutation changes the reading frame from which the genetic code is read, typically altering the amino acid sequence of the protein significantly. C) Missense mutation replaces one amino acid with another in the protein sequence, potentially affecting function but usually not silent. D) Silent mutation occurs when a change in the DNA does not result in a different amino acid being used in the protein; these changes are often within the redundancy of the genetic code and do not affect the final protein product.

Step 4: Conclusion
Silent mutations are undetectable because they do not alter the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein, staying within the codon redundancy of the genetic code. Final Answer: (D)