Final answer:
Mutations can be induced by environmental factors like radiation or chemicals that damage DNA. Cells have mechanisms to repair DNA damage, but if this fails, mutations can occur, potentially leading to changes in the organism's genetic material. Radiation can cause breaks in DNA whereas chemicals may introduce replication errors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mutations can occur when an organism is exposed to radiation or certain chemicals that damage the cell's DNA. There are two types of mutations: induced and spontaneous. Induced mutations result from environmental factors such as chemicals, UV rays, X-rays, or other agents, while spontaneous mutations arise from natural cellular processes without external influence.
Exposure to environmental mutagens like ionizing radiation (X-rays, gamma rays) can cause breaks in DNA, or nonionizing radiation such as ultraviolet light may induce pyrimidine dimers, both leading to potential DNA damage and subsequent mutations. Chemical mutagens, on the other hand, include substances like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or base analogs that can introduce errors into DNA after replication.
Cells have mechanisms to repair DNA damage, including DNA polymerase with proofreading activity and mismatch repair systems. However, if the damage is not repaired, such as unrepaired pyrimidine dimers or replication of damaged DNA, mutations are passed onto daughter cells during cell division.