What is point mutation? Give one example
Point mutation is alteration or mutation of DNA at a single base pair by substitution, deletion or insertion of a single nitrogenous base. Example: In sickle cell anemia, there is mutation in a single base pair in the beta-globin chain of hemoglobin pigment of blood. Glutamic acid is replaced by Valine at the sixth position of the beta globin chain of hemoglobin. The substitution of amino acid in globin protein is due to substitution of a single base at the sixth codon of beta globin gene from GAG to GUG. Point mutation is alteration in a single base pair of DNA by substitution, deletion or insertion of a single nitrogen base. In sickle cell anemia there is substitution of single base at sixth position of beta-globin gene from GAG to GUG.
