Because the genetic code is non-overlapping, a missense mutation (from a single nucleotide change) results in the alteration of , and the resulting protein has .

only one codon; a single amino acid change

Explanation:

The genetic code is a set of nearly universal rules by which living cells direct the translation of the information encoded in genetic material (either DNA or RNA) into amino acids. The messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence obtained from the process of transcription consists of triplets of nucleotides or 'codons' which are used to code for all the 20 essential amino acids during translation. The genetic code is not overlapping because each letter contained in the genetic material (i.e., each nucleotide) cannot be used for two different codons. In consequence, a single substitution (mutation) in the nucleotide sequence can change only one codon, thereby changing only one amino acid in the polypeptide chain.