How does a deletion mutation affect the structure of a gene?

A deletion mutation specifically involves the removal of one or more nucleotides from the DNA sequence. This alteration can lead to significant changes in the structure of a gene. Since genes are made up of sequences of nucleotides that code for proteins, any deletion can disrupt the normal reading frame of the genetic code. If nucleotides are removed from a coding sequence, it can lead to frameshift mutations, which change how the sequence is read, potentially resulting in a completely different and nonfunctional protein being produced.

The removal of nucleotides can also affect regulatory elements within the gene, which may consequence in altered gene expression. Therefore, understanding the impact of deletion mutations is crucial in genetics as they can lead to various genetic disorders or influence the functioning of the gene in significant ways.