Which mutation involves the loss of one or more base pairs in the DNA sequence?

Which mutation involves the loss of one or more base pairs in the DNA sequence?

• A. Deletion Mutation
• B. Insertion Mutation
• C. Substitution Mutation
• D. Silent Mutation

Answer: (A)

Deletion mutation is when one or more nucleotides are removed from the DNA sequence. This directly describes the loss of base pairs. Such a change shortens the DNA and can shift the reading frame if the number of bases deleted isn’t a multiple of three, which often alters every downstream codon and disrupts the resulting protein. This is different from insertions (which add bases), substitutions (which replace one base with another), and silent mutations (a substitution that doesn’t change the amino acid).

Deletion mutation is when one or more nucleotides are removed from the DNA sequence. This directly describes the loss of base pairs. Such a change shortens the DNA and can shift the reading frame if the number of bases deleted isn’t a multiple of three, which often alters every downstream codon and disrupts the resulting protein. This is different from insertions (which add bases), substitutions (which replace one base with another), and silent mutations (a substitution that doesn’t change the amino acid).