Mutation could lead to a faulty Factor VIII protein by which mechanism?

• A. Mutation increases sugar content of Factor VIII
• B. Mutation only affects mRNA
• C. Mutation changes the amino acid sequence of Factor VIII.
• D. Mutation has no effect on Protein

Answer: (C)

Proteins must have a precise sequence of amino acids to fold into the correct shape and perform their functions. A mutation in the gene for Factor VIII can change the codons that specify which amino acids are added during translation, leading to a different amino acid sequence. This can disrupt folding, stability, or the ability to interact with other factors in the clotting cascade, producing a faulty Factor VIII protein. While changes in mRNA or other tangential effects can occur, the most direct way a mutation causes a malfunctioning Factor VIII is by altering its amino acid sequence. Options suggesting increased sugar content or no effect on the protein don’t capture the common impact of coding-region mutations on the protein’s structure and function.