Definitions for "Missense mutation"
(see nonsynonymous mutation)
A nonsynonymous mutation, or one that changes a codon for one amino acid to a codon for a different amino acid. (Contrast with frame-shift mutation, nonsense mutation, synonymous mutation.)
Mutations in the nucleotide sequence of DNA can result in the coding of proteins with missense mutations in the amino acids. This can alter the primary amino acid sequence and protein structure of the protein. An example of missense mutations are mutations of the β- myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene that can lead in a number of mutations in the protein that can lead to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.