Question

What happens in transcription and translation when a gene under goes mutation?

Answer 1

A gene is a sequence of specific bases in the DNA which codes for a protein. At first, gene is transcribed into an RNA molecule via transcription. This RNA molecule is then used to guide the process of translation, which involves addition of amino acids specific to the sequence bought by RNA.

Now, if there is a mutation in the gene, and considering it to be a deleterious one, it can have little to large impact on transcription and translation.

• The mutation can change the sequence of nucleotides (bases) in the RNA molecule, and transcription would result into an RNA with abnormal sequence.
• The mutated RNA molecule, would then lead to incorporation of wrong amino acids during translation. Depending on the mutation, translation may result into a truncated or lengthier protein.

( A truncated protein would result when the mutation results into a stop codon in place of a normal codon. Conversely, if mutation changes stop codon to a codon that codes for an amino acid, then protein length may increase.)