Final answer:
A spontaneous mutation occurs without environmental factors like chemicals or radiation, while an induced mutation occurs due to such factors. Therefore, option C (UV light) is not a spontaneous mutation since UV light is an environmental factor that causes induced mutations.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine which of the provided options is not an example of a spontaneous mutation, we must first understand what spontaneous mutations are. A spontaneous mutation is a mutation that occurs during normal cellular processes without being provoked by environmental factors. This could be due to errors in DNA replication or tautomeric shifts. Consequently, a mutation caused by an error in DNA replication (option A) or a tautomeric shift (option B) would be considered spontaneous. In contrast, induced mutations result from exposure to environmental factors such as chemicals and radiation. Radiation such as UV light is an example of an environmental factor that can cause induced mutations.
Given this distinction, option A (an error in DNA replication) and option B (a tautomeric shift) are spontaneous mutations. However, option C (a mutation caused by UV light) is an induced mutation and therefore not a spontaneous mutation. Therefore, the correct answer is C, a mutation caused by UV light is not an example of a spontaneous mutation.