Point Mutation
A point mutation is a type of genetic mutation that involves a change in a single nucleotide base within the DNA sequence of a gene. This alteration can lead to the substitution of one amino acid for another in a protein, potentially affecting the structure and function of the protein. Point mutations can be classified as silent (having no effect on the protein), missense (resulting in a different amino acid being incorporated into the protein), or nonsense (causing the premature termination of protein synthesis).