What type of mutation is caused by insertions and deletions?

Insertions and deletions are specific types of genetic mutations that can have a significant impact on the structure and function of a protein. When nucleotide pairs are added or removed from the DNA sequence, they shift the reading frame of the codons during the process of translation. This change in the reading frame is referred to as a frameshift mutation.

In a frameshift mutation, the entire sequence downstream from the point of mutation is altered, which often leads to an entirely different amino acid sequence being produced. This can result in proteins that are nonfunctional or have drastically changed functionalities, as the rearrangement of the codons changes the meanings of all subsequent codes.

Point mutations, on the other hand, typically involve a change in a single nucleotide, causing less dramatic alterations to the protein. Silent mutations do not affect the amino acid sequence due to the redundancy in the genetic code, and translocation mutations involve the rearrangement of parts of chromosomes rather than the insertion or deletion of nucleotides within a sequence. Thus, the correct identification of insertions and deletions as frameshift mutations highlights their potential for significant biological consequences.