A point mutation is a genetic alteration where a single nucleotide base pair in the DNA sequence is changed. This can result in different types of mutations such as silent, missense, or nonsense mutations.
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Point mutations can be caused by errors during DNA replication or by exposure to mutagens.
Missense mutations result from point mutations that change one amino acid in a protein.
Nonsense mutations create a premature stop codon, potentially leading to nonfunctional proteins.
Silent mutations are point mutations that do not alter the amino acid sequence of the protein.
Point mutations can have significant effects on microbial genetics, including antibiotic resistance.