Missense Mutation

A missense mutation is a change in a person’s DNA that results in a different version of a protein being made. Normally, DNA contains instructions for building proteins that our bodies need. When a mutation causes one small change in these instructions, the protein produced may function differently. This can sometimes cause health issues or traits, depending on how the change affects the protein’s role. Essentially, a missense mutation swaps out one building block in a protein’s structure, which can alter its normal activity.