Question

A classmate tells you that comic books are full of superheroes with powers caused

by mutations. Therefore, all mutations must be beneficial. Decide whether or not you agree. Write a
paragraph to argue your position regarding the benefits or harm caused by mutations.

Answer 1

Mutations can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful; they are not universally good and won't turn a person into a superhero. Beneficial mutations can aid in adaptation and evolution, while harmful ones can lead to genetic disorders or cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

I disagree with the statement that all mutations must be beneficial just because superheroes in comic books often acquire their powers through mutations. Mutations vary significantly in their effects; they can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful. While it's true that beneficial mutations can lead to the evolution of a species by coding for new versions of proteins that help an organism to adapt, harmful mutations can lead to genetic disorders or even cancer.

Take the mutation that confers resistance to insecticide in mosquitoes, which is a beneficial mutational adaptation that has increased their survival rates. On the flip side, mutations in the DNA repair enzymes can lead to an inability to correct mistakes in DNA replication, increasing the likelihood of cancer. Therefore, while mutations are essential for genetic diversity and evolution, they are not inherently beneficial and cannot turn people into superheroes.

Answer 2

No because that is just one example, and a completely fictional example at that, used for entertainment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mutations could cause health problems and abnormalities that could prove fatal. Though there could be benefits, like immunities to diseases, inherited or contracted, just the opposite could happen as well. And even if some benefits could be gained, a whole new set of problems could result from that change that weren't there before.