Silent mutation

Definition

A silent mutation is a change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA that does not alter the amino acid sequence of the protein produced. This occurs because of the redundancy in the genetic code.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Silent mutations occur at the level of DNA but do not affect protein function.
2. They are typically caused by synonymous substitutions in codons.
3. Because they do not change protein structure, silent mutations are often considered neutral.
4. Silent mutations can still have effects on gene expression and mRNA stability.
5. They can provide insight into evolutionary processes and genetic variability.

Review Questions

• What is a silent mutation and how does it differ from other types of mutations?
• Why do silent mutations not alter the amino acid sequence of proteins?
• Can silent mutations have any impact on gene expression or mRNA stability?

Related terms

Missense Mutation:

A change in a nucleotide sequence that results in a different amino acid in the protein.

Nonsense Mutation:

A mutation that converts a codon encoding an amino acid into a stop codon, terminating translation prematurely.

Frameshift Mutation:

Insertions or deletions of nucleotides that change the reading frame of the gene.