What mutation type involves the loss of a piece of DNA due to breakage?

The type of mutation that involves the loss of a piece of DNA due to breakage is indeed a breakage mutation. This kind of mutation occurs when a segment of DNA is physically broken and lost, leading to a decrease in the genetic material.

Breakage mutations can result from various factors, including environmental influences like radiation or chemicals that can cause the DNA strands to break. This loss can impact the organism by removing essential genes or regulatory sequences, potentially leading to disorders or developmental issues.

In contrast, duplication mutations involve the replication of a section of DNA, resulting in multiple copies of a segment. Inversion mutations occur when a segment of DNA is flipped and reattached, maintaining the same amount of genetic material but altering the order of the genes. Translocation mutations involve the movement of a segment from one chromosome to another, which can disrupt gene function but does not typically result in the loss of DNA.