What is the Difference Between Silent and Neutral Mutation?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The key difference between silent and neutral mutations lies in their effect on the amino acid sequence and the function of the protein:
- Silent Mutation: A silent mutation is a change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA that does not alter the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein. These mutations can occur in introns, which are spliced out before translation. Silent mutations are a specific type of neutral mutation.
- Neutral Mutation: A neutral mutation is a change in the nucleotide sequence that results in the replacement of one amino acid with another, but without altering the overall function of the protein. Neutral mutations are not beneficial or detrimental to the organism.
In summary, silent mutations do not change the amino acid sequence of the protein, while neutral mutations change the amino acid but not the function of the protein. Silent mutations are a specific type of neutral mutation.
Comparative Table: Silent vs Neutral Mutation
The main difference between silent and neutral mutations lies in their effects on the protein sequence and their impact on an organism's fitness. Here is a table comparing the key differences between the two:
| Feature | Silent Mutation | Neutral Mutation |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA that does not change the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein. | A type of mutation that is neither beneficial nor detrimental, and is not affected by natural selection. |
| Effect on Protein Sequence | Does not change the amino acid sequence. | May change the amino acid sequence, but the change is not beneficial or detrimental. |
| Impact on Fitness | Have little or no impact on the organism's fitness. | Can be beneficial, neutral, or detrimental to the organism's fitness, depending on the specific mutation. |
| Genetic Diversity | Silent mutations can create genetic diversity among species in a population. | Neutral mutations can contribute to genetic diversity due to their lack of impact on fitness. |
| Gene Expression | Silent mutations do not affect the organism's phenotype or protein function. | Neutral mutations may have a neutral effect on gene expression. |
| Subcategories | Silent mutations are a specific type of point mutation and can be considered a subcategory of neutral mutations. | Neutral mutations can be further divided into silent or non-silent mutations, depending on their effect on the amino acid sequence. |
In summary, silent mutations are a specific type of neutral mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence of the encoded protein, while neutral mutations are changes in the DNA sequence that have no impact on natural selection. Both types of mutations can contribute to genetic diversity, but their impact on an organism's fitness and gene expression may vary.
- SNP vs Mutation
- Missense vs Nonsense Mutation
- Silent vs Silence
- Synonymous vs Nonsynonymous Mutation
- Germline Mutation vs Somatic Mutation
- Frameshift Mutation vs Point Mutation
- Mutation vs Mutagen
- Point Mutations vs Indels
- Mutation vs Recombination
- Gene Mutation vs Chromosome Mutation
- Nondisjunction vs Translocation Mutations
- Forward vs Reverse Mutation
- Substitution Insertion vs Deletion Mutations
- Reversion vs Suppression Mutation
- Spontaneous vs Induced Mutation
- DNA Damage vs Mutation
- Mutation vs Polymorphism
- Wild Type vs Mutant Type
- Back Mutation vs Suppressor Mutation