Why is a single base-pair deletion mutation within a protein-coding sequence more likely to be harmful than a single base-pair change mutation?

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Callie Long

Biology

22 January, 22:41

Why is a single base-pair deletion mutation within a protein-coding sequence more likely to be harmful than a single base-pair change mutation?

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Berger · Answer 1

A single base-pair deletion would cause a frameshift mutation, disrupting every codon sequence read after it. A single base-pair change, however, only affects one codon. It is therefore less likely to cause harm.