What describes a genetic mutation that does not affect the amino acid sequence?

A silent mutation is characterized by a change in the DNA sequence that does not alter the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein. This occurs because of the redundancy in the genetic code, where multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. Consequently, even if the nucleotide sequence in the DNA is modified, the corresponding codon may still specify the same amino acid during translation. As a result, the silent mutation does not produce a change in the protein's primary structure, preserving its functionality.

In contrast, a missense mutation leads to a change in the amino acid sequence, resulting from a nucleotide change that alters one codon and thus the corresponding amino acid. Duplication mutations involve the repetition of a DNA segment, which typically alters the amount of protein produced and can affect the amino acid sequence. Translocation mutations involve the rearrangement of DNA segments between non-homologous chromosomes, which can also significantly affect gene expression and protein structure. Therefore, the distinctive feature of a silent mutation is its ability to modify the DNA without impacting the final protein product.