Question

¹.............. occurring ²................... sometimes result in the formation of a new ³.......... .

Sometimes this allele is ⁴............ to the organism and the organism dies. The ⁵.......... no longer exists in the ⁶.................
Many mutations are harmful, but in certain ⁷.................. the new allele of a gene might benefit its ⁸................ , leading to ⁹................... ................... .................. .
Sometimes, this allele gives the organism a survival / selective ¹⁰.................... . This allele can be ¹¹............... by members of the next ¹²..................... .
As a result, over many ¹³..................., this allele can then ¹⁴................. ........ ........................ in the population.

This is ¹⁵............... ............... .

Answer 1

Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence and are a key driver of diversity within populations. Beneficial mutations can lead to evolutionary changes by aiding in organisms' survival and reproduction. Harmful mutations are generally eliminated from the population by natural selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of a gene that has various effects on a population's genetic makeup. Beneficial mutations increase an organism's chances of survival or reproduction, becoming more common over time. On the other hand, harmful mutations can be eliminated from the population by natural selection. The net effect of a mutation is a change in allele frequency, which is generally low, but it is essential for evolution as it introduces new genotypic and phenotypic variation.

For a mutation to be considered beneficial, it must aid the organism in reaching sexual maturity and successfully reproducing within its environment. Sometimes, a mutation can provide a survival or selective advantage, allowing the advantageous allele to be passed on to subsequent generations and increase in frequency over many generations, thereby affecting the population's gene pool.

While most mutations are deleterious, there are instances where they can offer significant advantages, such as the famous example of the peppered moth during the Industrial Revolution or the resistance to insecticides in mosquitos. In rare circumstances, these beneficial mutations can lead to the evolution of a species as it adapts to changing environmental conditions.