What is the difference between a point and frameshift mutation?

A point mutation involves a change in a single nucleotide, while a frameshift mutation involves the insertion or deletion of nucleotides.

Point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence. This can result in a change in the amino acid sequence of the protein that is produced during translation. There are three types of point mutations: silent, missense, and nonsense. Silent mutations do not result in a change in the amino acid sequence, while missense mutations result in a different amino acid being incorporated into the protein. Nonsense mutations result in the formation of a premature stop codon, which can lead to a truncated protein.

Frameshift mutations, on the other hand, involve the insertion or deletion of nucleotides in the DNA sequence. This can cause a shift in the reading frame during translation, which can result in a completely different amino acid sequence being produced. Frameshift mutations are usually more severe than point mutations, as they can result in the production of a non-functional protein.

Both point and frameshift mutations can have significant effects on the function of proteins, and can lead to genetic disorders. However, the severity of the mutation depends on the location and nature of the mutation, as well as the specific protein that is affected.