A mutation in a bacteria cell changes the gene that codes for a certain protein, and as a result the bacteria produces a different protein. The gene sequences before and after the mutation are shown in the table below.
Sequence before the mutation: A–T–A–G–G–C–G–G–C–T–A–G
Sequence after the mutation: A–T–A–G–G–C–T–A–G
What type of mutation caused the cells to start making a different protein?
A.
frameshift
B.
insertion
C.
deletion
D.
substitution
D. Substitution
In this case, the mutation that occurred was a substitution, where one nucleotide was replaced by another. This type of mutation can lead to a change in the amino acid sequence of the protein, potentially resulting in a different protein being produced.