A bacterium was found to contain a sequence of ATCGGGATCCT in its genome. A few generations later, the sequence was found to be ATCGGGGGGATCCT. What type of mutation caused this change in the bacteria?
1.deletion
2.duplication
3.insertion
4.inversion

Respuesta :

I think it would be insertion due to the fact that there are more in the second one than in the first.

The correct answer is insertion

Insertion can be defined as the addition of one or more nucleotide base pairs  into a DNA sequence. It can leads to change in the codon sequence of a DNA, known as frameshift mutation as it changes the order of nucleotide sequence that codes for a specific protein. By this way, it can be detrimental as it leads to formation of non-functional or mutated protein.

As in the mutated sequence shows addition of four extra guanine bases (ATCGGGGGGATCCT)  in the original sequence (ATCGGGATCCT), it represents the insertion mutation.