Final answer:
Mutations with harmful consequences typically result in genetic disorders or cancer and are often eliminated by natural selection, reducing their spread in the population. While most mutations are deleterious, some can be neutral or even beneficial and contribute to evolutionary change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fate of mutations that have harmful consequences to an organism is generally negative, as they can lead to genetic disorders or cancer. These mutations are less likely to be passed on because they often result in a reduced ability of the individual to survive or reproduce. This process of natural selection tends to eliminate harmful mutations from the population. In contrast, advantageous mutations may improve an individual's chances of survival and reproduction, and thus, are more likely to be passed on to future generations.
However, it's critical to understand that not all mutations are detrimental. While deleterious mutations can be compared to random changes in a complex system like a car engine that usually lead to negative outcomes, some mutations are neutral or even beneficial. This variability is a fundamental aspect of evolutionary change. The mutation rate is quite low in individual genes, and while most mutations are harmful, the rare beneficial ones drive evolutionary progress over the long term.