Question

why do you think some mutations are Silent in the genetic code

Answer 1

Silent mutation are those mutation in which even change in nucleotide will not change the codon, thus the codon for amino acid remain same. This property of codon is called as degenrecy.Degeneracy of codons is the redundancy of the genetic code, exhibited as the multiplicity of three-base pair codon combinations that specify an amino acid. From evolution point of view why mutation are silent can be explained that is to protect the conserved structure of a protein. Generally mutation do no occur in coding region. If it happens in that region then it must have deleterious effect that is non-functional protein formation leading to disease condition. Spontaneous mutation occurrence cannot be stopped and it is an ultimate source for variation but silence mutation will allow to protect the protein function and structure.

Note : not all silence mutation result in normal functioning of a protein. Recent researches have indicated that even silence mutation lead to different phenotype.