When considering synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations within a population,which of the following is TRUE?
A)Nonsynonymous mutations will often be removed by purifying selection.
B)Synonymous mutations will often be removed by purifying selection.
C)The two types of mutations are not distinguished by purifying selection.
D)Only nonsynonymous mutations are known to occur.
E)Only synonymous mutations are known to occur.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Purifying selection removes deleterious mutations from a population, and nonsynonymous mutations are more likely to be deleterious because they alter the amino acid sequence of a protein. Synonymous mutations, on the other hand, do not change the amino acid sequence and are therefore less likely to be deleterious, so they are more likely to persist in a population.

When Considering Synonymous and Nonsynonymous Mutations Within a Population,which of the Following