What term describes mutations that alter a gene due to insertions or deletions in the DNA sequence?

The term that describes mutations caused by insertions or deletions in the DNA sequence is frameshift. This type of mutation occurs when the number of nucleotides inserted or deleted is not a multiple of three. Since codons—sequences of three nucleotides—are read during translation to form proteins, any change in the reading frame can lead to significant alterations in amino acid sequences, potentially resulting in dysfunctional proteins or translation stop signals.

In contrast, other terms do not accurately convey the specific change described by insertions or deletions. Codon shift is not a standard term used in genetics, and while it might suggest a change in codons, it does not specifically refer to the effect of insertions or deletions. Mutation effect is vague and does not specify the mechanism of alteration in the gene's DNA sequence. Translocation refers to a different type of mutation where a segment of DNA is moved from one location to another, which does not necessarily involve insertion or deletion. Thus, frameshift is the most precise term for the changes resulting from insertions or deletions.