DNA replication is carefully controlled to preserve the genetic information. However, changes in the genome do sometimes occur. These changes are known as mutations.
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Insertions and deletions result in what are called frame-shift mutations.
This means that when the groups of three nucleotides (codons) are read at the ribosome, the codon reading frame is shifted by one codon.
Completely different amino acids are coded for from this mutation onwards.
The resulting protein will be significantly altered and is usually non-functional.