FRAME SHIFT Meaning and
Definition
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A frame shift, also known as frame shift mutation or reading frame shift, is a type of genetic mutation that causes a shift in the reading frame of the genetic code. In molecular biology, the genetic information is encoded in sequences of three nucleotides, known as codons, which are translated into specific amino acids during protein synthesis. The sequence of codons determines the order in which amino acids are joined together to form a protein.
During a frame shift mutation, the addition or deletion of nucleotides occurs in the DNA sequence, leading to a change in the reading frame. This alteration causes a shift in the way the genetic code is interpreted during translation. As a result, the entire sequence of codons downstream of the mutation is altered, affecting the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein.
Frame shift mutations can have significant consequences as they often lead to the production of a completely different protein or a non-functional protein. This occurs because the shift in reading frame disrupts the correct alignment of codons and amino acids. Consequently, the protein's structure and function are impaired, potentially leading to a variety of genetic disorders or diseases.
Frame shift mutations can occur spontaneously during DNA replication or as a result of exposure to certain mutagenic agents. They are typically classified into two types: insertions, which add one or more nucleotides to the DNA sequence, and deletions, which remove one or more nucleotides. The severity of the consequences depends on the specific location and nature of the mutation, as well as the size of the shift in the reading frame.
Common Misspellings for FRAME SHIFT
- drame shift
- crame shift
- vrame shift
- grame shift
- trame shift
- rrame shift
- feame shift
- fdame shift
- ffame shift
- ftame shift
- f5ame shift
- f4ame shift
- frzme shift
- frsme shift
- frwme shift
- frqme shift
- frane shift
- frake shift
- fraje shift
- framw shift
Etymology of FRAME SHIFT
The term "frame shift" comes from the field of genetics and molecular biology. It is formed by combining the words "frame" and "shift".
The word "frame" refers to the reading frame, which is a specific way of dividing the DNA or RNA sequence into codons (groups of three nucleotides) during protein synthesis. In genetics, these codons encode the instructions for building proteins.
The term "shift" indicates a change or movement. In the context of genetics, a frame shift refers to the alteration in the reading frame caused by the insertion or deletion of nucleotides in the DNA or RNA sequence. This alteration shifts the way codons are read during translation, leading to a change in the resulting amino acid sequence of the protein.
