Question

Differentiate between point mutation and frame-shift mutation.

Answer 1

Aspect	Point Mutation	Frame-Shift Mutation
Definition	Point mutation is a gene mutation where a gene, located at a fixed point on the chromosome, undergoes a change in the nucleotide sequence at a single point.	Frame-shift mutation is caused by deletion or addition (insertion) of a nucleotide in a DNA segment, which shifts the reading frame of codons from the mutation site onward.
Nature of Change	It involves substitution of one nucleotide by another (replacement mutation).	It involves insertion or deletion of nucleotides that shift the triplet reading frame of genetic code.
Effect on Protein	It may cause a change in a single amino acid or no change if the substitution is silent.	It causes a gross change in amino acid sequence downstream of the mutation, often resulting in a nonfunctional protein.
Example	Sickle cell anemia results from a base substitution mutation affecting hemoglobin.	Muscular dystrophy is caused by frame-shift mutation leading to premature termination of protein dystrophin.