What type of mutation consists of a change in a single nucleotide?

A mutation that involves a change in a single nucleotide is classified as a point mutation. This type of mutation can manifest in various ways, including a substitution where one nucleotide is replaced by another. This alteration might result in different outcomes, such as a silent mutation—which does not change the amino acid sequence—or a missense mutation, which might lead to the production of a different amino acid in a protein, potentially affecting its function. Furthermore, if a point mutation introduces a stop codon, it can result in a premature termination of protein translation, leading to a truncated protein. The key factor distinguishing point mutations from other types of mutations is that they specifically impact only a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence, making them critical for understanding various genetic disorders and variations.