Question

What is an insertion mutation?

Answer 1

Hint: Alteration in the genome’s nucleotide sequence of an organism, extrachromosomal DNA, or a virus is referred to as a mutation. Mutations occur due to natural occurring errors, DNA replication, evolutionary process, viral replication, meiosis, and mitosis.

Complete answer:
When the mutation in the DNA is caused by the addition of one or more base pairs, it is referred to as an insertional mutation. Insertional mutation can occur naturally, synthetically, and can be created by viral transposons. Insertions in the base pairs can occur at any site in the DNA strands. The size of the mutation can range from the insertion of a single base pair to one section of chromosome inserted into another. The insertion of base pairs by the transposable genetic elements can result in lethal or altered functions. Insertions can modify the targeted genes by overexpression or suppression of the original phenotype. It has been recently perceived that most of the insertional mutations on the DNA do not produce an observable effect or they produce a minimal effect. Insertions within the exon region produce hazardous effects. A frameshift mutation is a type of insertional mutation in which there is either insertion or deletion of base pairs that are not divisible by three. It alters the amino acids encoded by the gene following the mutation.

Note:
Insertional mutation is being used as a technique to develop tools in the field of functional genomics. T-DNA and transposons are used to induce mutations in the DNA strands to provide the means to generate extensive genomic libraries of mutants that allow interrupted genes to be identified in no time.