Question

Mutations are rarely observed in eukaryotic phenotypes because:

1) Any damage will most likely be in a non-coding region of DNA
2) If damage is in a coding region, it will most likely be silent
3) Most DNA damage is quickly repaired (by definition, if it is repaired it is not a mutation)
4) A and B are both correct
5) A, B and C are all correct

Answer 1

Mutations are rarely seen in eukaryotic phenotypes because most DNA damage occurs in non-coding regions or results in silent mutations, and cells are highly efficient at repairing DNA damage before it can cause changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mutations in eukaryotic phenotypes are rarely observed because:

5) A, B, and C are all correct

.

1. Any damage will most likely be in a non-coding region of DNA.
2. If damage is in a coding region, it will most likely be silent.
3. Most DNA damage is quickly repaired.

Many mutations have no effect on an organism because they either occur in regions of DNA that do not code for proteins (non-coding regions) or result in silent mutations that don't change the amino acid sequence of a protein. Moreover, eukaryotic cells have highly efficient DNA repair mechanisms, which promptly fix most DNA damage before it can affect protein synthesis or the cell division process. If repair fails and the mutation is in a germ cell, it might be passed on to the next generation, contributing to genetic diversity. However, if a somatic cell experiences such damage and cannot repair it, the cell likely undergoes apoptosis to prevent detrimental consequences like cancer.