Effects of Missense Mutations on Protein Function

In the process of protein synthesis, ribosomes play a crucial role in translating mRNA into polypeptides. This process is tightly regulated and involves several stages: initiation, elongation, and termination. During elongation, amino acids are sequentially added to the growing polypeptide chain as per the sequence encoded in the mRNA. The binding of transfer RNA (tRNA) to the ribosome is essential for this process. Each tRNA molecule carries a specific amino acid and has an anticodon that is complementary to the corresponding codon on the mRNA strand.

Consider a scenario where a mutation occurs in a gene coding for a protein. This mutation leads to a change in a single nucleotide in the mRNA transcript, resulting in a different codon that specifies an amino acid that is structurally similar to the original amino acid. What effect is this type of mutation likely to have on the functionality of the protein produced?