Point Mutation vs. Frameshift Mutation

Key Differences




Comparison Chart
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Number of Base Pairs
Occurs Due To
Influence

Significance
Diseases

Detrimental Effects
Length of DNA Molecule

Number of Amino Acids

Impact on Reading Frame

Point Mutation vs. Frameshift Mutation
Point mutation is the little change in the gene structure due to the disposition of single nucleotide; on the other hand, frameshift mutation is the change in the frame of the gene due to the disposition of the more than one nucleotide. Point mutation just needs only one nucleotide; on the flip side, frameshift mutation needs more than one nucleotide. Point mutation does not cause the frame change in the gene; on the opposite side, frameshift mutation causes the change in the frame of the gene.
Point mutation mainly occurs by the process of substitution with other nucleotides; on the other side of the coin, frameshift mutation occurs by the process of insertion of other nucleotides or deletion of nucleotides from the gene. There is a change in the structure of the gene as a result of the point mutation; on the other hand, there is a change in the number of nucleotides from the gene as a result of the frameshift mutation. Point mutation results in the occurrence of diseases like sickle cell anemia; on the flip side, frameshift mutation results in the occurrence of diseases like Tay-Sachs.
Point mutation has fewer side effects, but in its comparison, frameshift mutation has more detrimental effects. Point mutation mainly affects only one amino acids, whereas frameshift mutation mainly affects all the related amino acids. Point mutation causes the change in the length of the DNA molecule; on the other hand, frameshift mutation does not cause the difference in the length of the molecule.
What is Point Mutation?
Point mutation is the type of genetic mutation which alters the position of only one nucleotide by the process of substitution with the nucleotide of another gene molecule. It has fewer side effects, but the cause of this mutation results in very severe diseases like sickle cell anemia. It does not have any impact on the reading framework of the proteins.
It just involves only one base pair. It means it just needs only one amino acid mutation. Point mutation does not cause a change in the structure of proteins but causes a change in the length of the DNA molecule. It mainly affects the one genetic code that translates the genetic code and causes the formation of amino acids into proteins.
It causes the change in the sequence of only one nucleotide. The change in gene structure can cause the change in the sequence of nucleotides, which affects the genetic codes, which in turn changes the sequence of amino acids in proteins. As a result of all these processes, this may cause the formation of defective proteins because of which different severe diseases like sickle cell anemia.
What is Frameshift Mutation?
A frameshift mutation is the type of genetic mutation which alters the position of more than one nucleotides by the process of insertion of other nucleotides or by the process of deletion of two or more nucleotides from the gene structure. It generally does not changes the structure of the molecule, but it can alter the number of nucleotides in the DNA molecule.
The change in gene structure can cause the difference in the sequence of nucleotides, which affects the genetic codes, which in turn changes the course of amino acids in proteins. As a result of all these processes, this may cause the formation of defective proteins because of which different severe diseases like Tay-Sach diseases.
It is a particular type of process that impacts the reading framework of the proteins. That’s why it is called a frameshift mutation. The significance of frameshift mutation is the change in the number of amino acids in a protein molecule.