Can a Missense Mutation Be Silent?

A point mutation may cause a silent mutation if the mRNA codon codes for the same amino acid, a missense mutation if the mRNA codon codes for a different amino acid, or a nonsense mutation if the mRNA codon becomes a stop codon.

What mutations can be silent?

Mutations that cause the altered codon to produce an amino acid with similar functionality (e.g. a mutation producing leucine instead of isoleucine) are often classified as silent; if the properties of the amino acid are conserved, this mutation does not usually significantly affect protein function.

Is missense mutation neutral?

A missense mutation can be lethal or can cause severe Mendelian disease; alternatively, it can be mildly deleterious, effectively neutral, or beneficial.