Neutral Mutations
Definition
Neutral mutations are changes in an organism's genetic code that do not affect its fitness, meaning they neither benefit nor harm an organism’s survival or reproduction abilities.
Analogy
Consider getting a new paint job on your car. The color might change, but it doesn't affect how the car runs or its fuel efficiency. That's like a neutral mutation - it changes something in the DNA, but doesn't impact how the organism functions.
Related terms
Silent Mutation: A type of mutation where a codon is changed, yet still codes for the same amino acid.
Missense Mutation: This is when a single nucleotide change results in a codon that codes for a different amino acid.
Nonsense Mutation: A mutation that alters the sequence of bases in a DNA molecule so that no protein can be synthesized.
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