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Definition

noun

A type of gene mutation wherein the deletion (as well as addition) of (a number of) nucleotide(s) causes a shift in the reading frame of the codons in the mRNA, thus, may eventually lead to the alteration in the amino acid sequence at protein translation.

Supplement

Mutations involving the genes are of two major types:

• base-pair substitution
• frameshift mutation or addition/deletion mutation

Synonym(s):

• frameshift mutation
• addition mutation
• addition-deletion mutation

Compare:

• Base-pair substitution

See also:

• gene mutation