Question

What would be the result of a cytosine base being substituted for a thymine base in a DNA segment during DNA replication?

Answers

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Answered by GPT 3.5
If a cytosine (C) base is substituted for a thymine (T) base during DNA replication, it would result in a point mutation known as a C→T substitution. This means that instead of correctly pairing with guanine (G) during replication, the cytosine would pair with adenine (A).

During the next replication cycle, when the DNA strand containing the C→T mutation serves as a template, an adenine will be incorporated opposite the mutated cytosine. As a result, the original G:C base pair will be replaced by an A:T base pair.

This mutation can have various effects on the DNA sequence, depending on its location within the coding or non-coding regions of the DNA. If the mutation occurs within a gene's coding region, it can potentially alter the codon sequence and, consequently, affect the amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by the gene. This can lead to a change in protein structure and function. However, if the mutation occurs within non-coding regions such as introns or intergenic sequences, the impact may be minimal or none at all, as these regions usually do not directly influence protein synthesis.