What is the result of a nonsense point mutation?

A nonsense point mutation is a specific type of genetic mutation where a single nucleotide change results in the formation of a premature stop codon in the mRNA sequence. This leads to the termination of protein synthesis before the full-length protein can be produced. The presence of this stop codon effectively shortens the resulting polypeptide chain, often resulting in a nonfunctional protein.

The significance of this mutation lies in its ability to truncate the protein, which can disrupt its function in biological processes. The protein may lack critical domains necessary for its activity or structure, leading to possible deleterious effects on the organism. In many cases, this type of mutation can lead to various genetic diseases or disorders if the affected protein is crucial for normal cellular functions.

Other types of mutations have different outcomes – some might duplicate amino acids or enhance protein function, but a nonsense mutation specifically leads to a chain-terminating effect, which is what makes the correct answer clear.