NHGRI logo
Missense Mutation

​Missense Mutation

updated: October 31, 2024

Definition

A missense mutation is a DNA change that results in different amino acids being encoded at a particular position in the resulting protein. Some missense mutations alter the function of the resulting protein.

 Missense-mutation


Narration

Missense Mutation. Missense mutations can also be benign and change an amino acid in a protein without altering its function.

Lawrence Brody
Lawrence Brody, Ph.D.

Director

Division of Genomics and Society