You are a volunteer for Nurses Without Borders and are being sent on a humanitarian mission. You are somewhat concerned because you have learned from the CDC website that antibiotic-resistant Haemophilus influenzae is common in the country to which you are being sent. This encapsulated, Gram-negative bacterium can cause a variety of illnesses, including community-acquired pneumonia. You do some research on the genetics of this pathogen.
-On further reading, you learn that strains of H. influenzae vary genotypically. Many of them have silent mutations. Select the True statement regarding this type of mutation.
A) It is a point mutation-a single base pair is altered, causing the change of one amino acid in the protein that changes the function of that protein.
B) It is a point mutation-a single base pair is altered, causing the change of one amino acid in the protein that stops the correct formation of a protein.
C) It is a point mutation-a single base pair is altered, causing the change of one amino acid in the protein that does not affect the function of that protein.
D) It is a frameshift mutation-base pairs are added or deleted, causing the change of one or more amino acids in the protein but does not affect the function of that protein.
E) It is a point mutation-several base pairs are altered, causing the change of many amino acids in the protein that completely changes the function of that protein.

Question

You are a volunteer for Nurses Without Borders and are being sent on a humanitarian mission. You are somewhat concerned because you have learned from the CDC website that antibiotic-resistant Haemophilus influenzae is common in the country to which you are being sent. This encapsulated, Gram-negative bacterium can cause a variety of illnesses, including community-acquired pneumonia. You do some research on the genetics of this pathogen. 
-On further reading, you learn that strains of H. influenzae vary genotypically. Many of them have silent mutations. Select the True statement regarding this type of mutation.
A) It is a point mutation-a single base pair is altered, causing the change of one amino acid in the protein that changes the function of that protein.
B) It is a point mutation-a single base pair is altered, causing the change of one amino acid in the protein that stops the correct formation of a protein.
C) It is a point mutation-a single base pair is altered, causing the change of one amino acid in the protein that does not affect the function of that protein.
D) It is a frameshift mutation-base pairs are added or deleted, causing the change of one or more amino acids in the protein but does not affect the function of that protein.
E) It is a point mutation-several base pairs are altered, causing the change of many amino acids in the protein that completely changes the function of that protein.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Silent mutations are point mutations, but they occur in the non-coding regions of the gene or in the third base pair of a codon. Consequently, the altered codon codes for the same amino acid as the original, resulting in no change in the protein product.

You Are a Volunteer for Nurses Without Borders and Are