gen-briefly-explain-a-point-mutation-and-one-common-misconceptio-3e19

Briefly explain a point mutation and one common misconception about it.

## Point Mutation A **point mutation** is a change in a single nucleotide base pair in DNA. This can occur through: - **Substitution** (one base replaced by another) - **Insertion** (one base added) - **Deletion** (one base removed) ## Common Misconception **Misconception**: "All point mutations are harmful and cause diseases." **Reality**: Most point mutations are actually *neutral* or have minimal effect. Many occur in non-coding DNA regions or result in "silent mutations" where the amino acid sequence remains unchanged due to redundancy in the genetic code. Only a small percentage of point mutations are harmful, while some can even be beneficial and drive evolution. For example, a point mutation that conferred lactose tolerance in adults was advantageous for certain human populations.