Editing Nonsense mutation (section)

== Possible outcomes ==
=== Deleterious ===
Deleterious outcomes represent the majority of nonsense mutations and are the most common outcome that is observed naturally. Deleterious nonsense mutations decreases the overall [[Fitness (biology)|fitness]] and [[reproductive success]] of the [[organism]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2018-08-26 |title=Nonsense Mutation — Definition, Example, Outcomes |url=https://biologydictionary.net/nonsense-mutation/ |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Biology Dictionary |language=en-US}}</ref> For example, a nonsense mutation occurring in a [[gene]] encoding a protein can cause structural or functional defects in the protein that disrupt [[Cell biology|cellular biology.]] Depending on the significance of the functions of this protein, this disruption now could be detrimental to the fitness and survival of that organism.<ref name=":4" />

=== Neutral ===
When a nonsense mutation is neutral, it does not provide benefits or harm. These occur when the effects of the mutation are unnoticed. In other words, this means that the mutation does not positively or negatively affect the organism. As this effect is unnoticed, there is a lack of papers describing such mutations. An example of this type of nonsense mutation is one that occurs directly before the original stop codon for that given protein.<ref name=":4" /> Because this mutation occurred in such close proximity to the end of the protein chain, the impact of this change might not be as significant. This would suggest that this amino acid that was mutated did not have a large impact on the overall structure or function of the protein or the organism as a whole. This scenario is rare, but possible.<ref name=":4" />

=== Beneficial ===
Beneficial nonsense mutations are considered as the rarest of possible nonsense mutation outcomes. Beneficial nonsense mutations increase the overall fitness and reproductive success of an organism, opposite of the effects of a deleterious mutation.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":4" /> Because a nonsense mutation introduces a premature stop codon within a sequence of DNA, it is extremely unlikely that this scenario can actually benefit the organism.<ref name=":1" /> An example of this would occur with a nonsense mutation that impacts a dysfunctional protein that releases [[toxin]]s. The stop codon that this mutation brings would stop this dysfunctional protein from properly carrying out its function. Stopping this protein from performing at full strength causes less toxin to be released and the fitness of the organism to be improved. These types of situations with nonsense mutations occur a lot less frequently than the deleterious outcomes.<ref name=":4" />