In DNA mutation, what is a silent mutation?

A silent mutation refers to a type of genetic mutation where a change in the DNA sequence occurs, specifically in the nucleotide sequence, but does not alter the resulting amino acid sequence during protein synthesis. This is possible because of the redundancy in the genetic code, where multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.

For example, if a nucleotide substitution occurs and the new codon still specifies the same amino acid as the original codon, the protein produced will be identical to the one that would have been produced without the mutation. Consequently, the organism's phenotype remains unchanged as a result of this mutation. This is why choice B accurately describes a silent mutation. In contrast, other types of mutations, such as missense or nonsense mutations, typically lead to changes in the amino acid sequence, which can affect protein function and ultimately influence the organism's traits.