which of the following mutations would be most likely to have a harmful effect on an organism?
there is not enough information
all mutations have a harmful effect on organisms
a substituion of a thymine for adenine
a deletion of 3 bases near the center of a gene
A deletion of 3 bases near the center of a gene would be most likely to have a harmful effect on an organism. This is because it can cause a frameshift mutation, which alters the reading frame of the gene and leads to a change in the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein.
A deletion of 3 bases near the center of a gene would most likely have a harmful effect on an organism. This is because deletions can cause a shift in the reading frame, leading to a frameshift mutation. This type of mutation can alter the entire sequence of amino acids coded for by the gene, potentially resulting in a nonfunctional or malfunctioning protein.
To determine which mutation would be most likely to have a harmful effect on an organism, we need to consider the potential consequences of each mutation.
First, let's analyze the options given:
1. "There is not enough information": This option suggests that we lack vital information to make a decision. Without further details, we cannot determine whether this mutation would be harmful or not.
2. "All mutations have a harmful effect on organisms": This option implies that every mutation has detrimental effects. However, this is an oversimplification. While some mutations can indeed be harmful, others may have neutral or even beneficial effects.
3. "A substitution of a thymine for adenine": This mutation type is called a point mutation or a single nucleotide substitution. It involves the replacement of one nucleotide (in this case, adenine) with another nucleotide (thymine). The impact of this substitution largely depends on its specific location within a gene and its effect on protein structure and function. Some point mutations are harmless, while others can disrupt protein function, leading to harmful effects.
4. "A deletion of 3 bases near the center of a gene": This mutation involves the removal of three nucleotides within a gene. It is known as a deletion mutation and can result in a frameshift mutation if the number of nucleotides is not divisible by three. Frameshift mutations often reshape the entire protein sequence, potentially leading to non-functional or severely altered proteins. Hence, this type of mutation is more likely to have a harmful effect on an organism.
Based on the provided options, the deletion of 3 bases near the center of a gene would be most likely to have a harmful effect on an organism.