What is a frame shift mutation?

A frame shift mutation occurs when there is an insertion or deletion of nucleotides in the DNA sequence that is not a multiple of three. This alteration shifts the reading frame of the sequence during translation, which means that all downstream codons will be misread, potentially resulting in a completely altered protein product.

The significance of this type of mutation lies in its ability to drastically change the amino acid sequence of a protein, often leading to nonfunctional proteins or truncated versions that may severely affect cellular functions. Frame shifts can also create premature stop codons when the reading frame is altered, further contributing to protein dysfunction.

In contrast, other choices describe mutations that do not lead to changes in the reading frame or affect coding sequences in a way that substantially alters protein synthesis. Understanding the implications of frame shift mutations is crucial in molecular biology, as they can have profound effects in genetic disorders, evolution, and protein engineering.