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frameshift mutation

(FRAYM-shift myoo-TAY-shun)
An insertion or deletion involving a number of base pairs that is not a multiple of three, which consequently disrupts the triplet reading frame of a DNA sequence. Such variants (or mutations) usually lead to the creation of a premature termination (stop) codon, and result in a truncated (shorter-than-normal) protein product. Also called frameshift variant.
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