In a missense mutation, what occurs?

In a missense mutation, a single nucleotide change in the DNA sequence ultimately results in the incorporation of a different amino acid into a protein. This occurs because the change in the DNA alters the corresponding codon during the process of transcription and translation. The new codon codes for an amino acid that is different from the original, which can affect the function or stability of the resulting protein, depending on the nature of the amino acid substitution.

This mutation can have various effects on the organism, ranging from benign to deleterious, depending on the role of the specific amino acid that has changed. Some missense mutations may be silent in terms of their effect on protein function, while others may significantly impair or enhance the activity of the protein involved.