Question

Mutations can be categorized based on the kind of effect they have on an organism. Blue eyes in humans are a result of a mutation in the OCA2 gene, which controls the production of pigment melanin in the iris. This mutation is an example of a mutation. Such mutations have effect on an organism’s survival.

Answer 1

Blue eyes are the result of a neutral mutation in the OCA2 gene affecting melanin production without impacting survival or reproduction, exemplifying how mutations can have varying effects on organismal fitness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mutation resulting in blue eyes is an example of a neutral mutation. Neutral mutations are those that have no significant effect on an organism's fitness, meaning they neither increase nor decrease an organism's chances of survival and reproduction. Blue eyes in humans come from a mutation in the OCA2 gene, affecting the production of the pigment melanin in the iris, without significantly affecting the individual's ability to survive or reproduce.

Mutations fall into various categories based on their effects on fitness. Those that decrease the fitness are often harmful or deleterious, while others can be beneficial, providing an advantage in the organism's environment. Mutations that don't affect fitness, like the blue eye mutation, can persist in the population because they do not interfere with the organism's ability to pass its genes on to the next generation.

Answer 2

Mutations can be categorized based on the kind of effect they have on an organism. Blue eyes in humans are a result of a mutation in the OCA2 gene, which controls the production of pigment melanin in the iris.

This mutation is an example of a neutral mutation. Such mutations have no effect on an organism’s survival.