Nukleotidinpoiston
Nukleotidinpoisto refers to a type of gene mutation where one or more nucleotides are removed from a DNA sequence. This deletion can occur at any point within a gene and its size can vary significantly, from a single nucleotide to entire segments of DNA. The consequences of a nukleotidinpoisto depend heavily on its location and size. If the deletion is within the coding region of a gene and is not a multiple of three nucleotides, it often leads to a frameshift mutation. This means that the reading frame, the way the genetic code is translated into amino acids, is altered from the point of the deletion onwards. As a result, the downstream amino acid sequence is completely changed, usually leading to a non-functional protein. Even if the deletion is a multiple of three nucleotides, thus not causing a frameshift, it can still disrupt protein function by removing essential amino acids or altering the protein's three-dimensional structure. Nukleotidinpoisto can arise spontaneously due to errors during DNA replication or recombination, or they can be induced by environmental mutagens like certain chemicals or radiation. These mutations are implicated in a variety of genetic disorders and diseases, including cystic fibrosis and certain types of cancer. Genetic testing can identify the presence and location of nukleotidinpoisto to aid in diagnosis and understanding disease mechanisms.