Question
MIIssense
10. Frameshift mutations occurring at the beginning of the gene typically ensure that the protein will be
nonfunctional. Explain why this is true.
Answer
Frameshift mutations occurring at the beginning of the gene cause a shift in the reading frame of the gene, resulting in a completely different set of amino acids being encoded by the gene. This leads to a protein that is likely to be nonfunctional due to the incorrect sequence of amino acids.