When a chromosome undergoes a deletion mutation, what happens to the genetic information in the deleted segment?

• A. It is reversed in orientation but remains on the same chromosome.
• B. It is duplicated, increasing the number of copies of the deleted segment.
• C. It is moved to a different (nonhomologous) chromosome without changing copy number.
• D. It is lost from the chromosome, potentially removing one or more genes.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what a deletion mutation is: it involves the removal of a segment of a chromosome, which means a portion of the genetic material is physically lost.
2. Recognize that when a segment is deleted, the genetic information contained in that segment is no longer present on the chromosome; it does not get reversed, duplicated, or moved elsewhere.
3. Recall that other types of chromosomal mutations include inversions (where a segment is reversed), duplications (where a segment is copied), and translocations (where a segment moves to a different chromosome), but these are distinct from deletions.
4. Conclude that in a deletion mutation, the genetic information in the deleted segment is lost, which can result in the loss of one or more genes and potentially affect the organism's phenotype.
5. Summarize that the key consequence of a deletion mutation is the permanent loss of genetic material from the chromosome.