Question

Are all mutations bad? True or false. Explain
And what is a mutation?

Answer 1

Not all mutations are bad. Mutations are changes in DNA that can be neutral, beneficial, or harmful. Factors like environmental mutagens can induce mutations, which are not always bad and are essential for evolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

Are All Mutations Bad?

False, not all mutations are bad. A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases in DNA or RNA. While many mutations are neutral and have no effect on the organism, some can be beneficial or harmful. Beneficial mutations may provide an advantage in survival and reproduction and can become more common in a population through natural selection. For example, a mutation that confers resistance to a particular disease would be beneficial. On the other hand, harmful mutations can lead to genetic disorders or diseases like cancer.

Mutagens and Cancer

Mutagens, such as cigarette smoke, can cause cancer because they induce mutations in the DNA of cells. These mutations can disrupt normal cell function and lead to uncontrolled cell growth, which is characteristic of cancer.

Causes of Mutations

Mutations can occur naturally during DNA replication or be induced by environmental factors, known as mutagens. Therefore, it is false that mutations are always caused by exposure to toxic substances. Some mutations can indeed make chromosomes longer or shorter, which is seen in various chromosomal mutations such as duplications or deletions.

Answer 2

False. Some mutations can be good or neutral. For example: Eye Colors such as blue or hazel are mutations, but they neither harm not hurt an individual making Eye Color a neutral mutation.

An example of a good mutation would be: Mutations in many bacteria that allow them to survive in the presence of antibiotic drugs. The mutations lead to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

What is a mutation? A mutation is a change that occurs in our DNA structure.