What should Markell tell her about mutations to BEST explain how they can affect an organism’s genes?
Mutations are rarely harmful. They cause genetic disorders or cancer.
All mutations are harmful. A mutation is a change in the gene sequence.
Mutations occur at random. Some mutations can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.
Most mutations are helpful. The type of mutation depends on the gene sequence it affects.
Markell should tell her that “Mutations occur at random. Some mutations can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.”
This explanation covers the fact that mutations are random changes in the DNA sequence, and not all mutations have negative effects on an organism. Some can indeed be advantageous and contribute positively to an organism’s adaptation to its environment, while others might be neutral or cause harm. Understanding this variability helps clarify the complexity of how mutations can affect genes and, consequently, an organism.