Point mutations can arise from errors during DNA replication, exposure to mutagens such as chemicals or radiation, or through biological processes like viral infections. They are classified into three main types:
Substitution: A single base pair is replaced by another. This includes transitions (purine to purine or pyrimidine to pyrimidine) and transversions (purine to pyrimidine or vice versa). Insertion: An extra nucleotide is added to the DNA sequence, which can disrupt the reading frame. Deletion: A nucleotide is removed from the DNA sequence, potentially causing a frameshift mutation.
