Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
point-mutation
noun
/pɔɪnt ˌmjuːˈteɪʃən/
Definition
A point mutation is a change in a single nucleotide base pair in the DNA sequence of an organism.
Examples
- In some cases, a point mutation can lead to a beneficial trait that helps an organism survive.
- The point mutation in the gene resulted in a different amino acid being produced, altering the protein’s function.
Meaning
This type of mutation can lead to the alteration of a protein, which may affect how a cell functions. Point mutations can occur during DNA replication and can be categorized into different types based on their effects.
Synonyms
- single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
- base substitution
