Question

How do mutations cause evolution?

Answer 1

Mutations:

1. A mutation is a change in our DNA sequence on chromosomes that arises as a result of errors in DNA replication or numerous environmental influences such as UV light, cigarette smoke, and so on.
2. There are two types of mutations: point mutations and chromosomal abnormalities.
3. One base pair is modified in point mutations. In contrast, chromosomal aberrations are larger-scale alterations that arise during meiosis in uneven crossing-over events, DNA recombination slippage, or transposable event activities.
4. Due to these errors, genes and even entire chromosomes can be substituted, duplicated, or deleted, resulting in a permanent alteration in DNA sequence.

Mutations and evolution:

1. Because mutations are necessary for evolution, every genetic trait in every organism was created by a mutation.
2. Alleles, a new genetic variety, spreads through reproduction, and differential reproduction is a crucial feature of evolution.
3. Mutations aid an organism's survival in a changing environment, and according to Darwin, only those organisms that are fit, i.e., those that acquire mutations and evolve in response to changing conditions, are selected by nature.
4. As a result, it's easy to see how a mutation that allows an organism to feed, grow, or reproduce more effectively could cause the mutant allele to become more abundant.
5. The population may soon be considerably different ecologically and physiologically from the original people that lacked adaptability. Thus. Evolution results from mutations.
6. Even harmful mutations might impact evolutionary change in small populations by removing people who may contain adaptive alleles at other genes.
7. As a result, mutations can be beneficial at one moment but harmful at another.