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Mutations often occur without evolution. Every human child, for example, has dozens of new mutations that he/she did not inherit from his/her parents. Evolution is dependent on a statistically significant change in allele frequencies. In layman's terms, the species - in general - has to change for evolution to have occurred.
Here is an example: Right now, how many legs do dogs have? They have 4 legs. Is this true or ALL dogs? No, but in general dogs have 4 legs. Most dogs have 4 legs. If a puppy were born with 5 legs, it would be a "weird" dog. Just because it has a new mutation does not mean dogs have evolved.
However, if you were to go to the future 100 years from now and find out that dogs now have 5 legs. It is now 'normal' for dogs to have 5 legs. A dog born with only 4 legs is a 'weird' dog. - Then evolution has occurred. The species (dogs) has changed (in general).
*The change has to be "statistically significant" within the species to count. If dogs change from 1% having 5 legs to 2% having 5 legs, it's probably not significant. If it changes from 1% to 90% that is very significant. Those examples are obvious, but where do you draw the line? You will learn how to find out significance in statistics class.
A mutation could potentially lead to evolution, but every mutation is not guaranteed to cause evolution. In fact, most mutations do NOT lead to evolution. It entirely depends on the gene, the mutation, the species, and things like: the environment (natural selection), human choice (artificial selection), or chance (genetic drift). Most mutations are either unnoticed (occur in dormant genes, or they do not make a difference in protein structure or function), or they are harmful. It's a lot easier to mess something up than to improve it.
*Keep in mind however, all evolution is not better. That is not part of the definition. Evolution is just change in the species over time. Natural selection is usually evolution that's improvement. People often assume that natural selection and evolution are the same, but they are not. Evolution can be harmful or just neutral. For example, if I keep breeding dogs that are blind, I can evolve dogs to include blindness as a normal trait. However, that would be detrimental to the life of dogs now.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIn this sense. Mutations, which need to be in the germ line too to be heritable, serve up variations in organisms that are subject to natural selection and selected organisms leave more decadents that have a higher genetic representation in the populations gene pool; evolution has occurred.
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Are all mutation harmful?
Mutations that succeed [are beneficial] provide Evolution, so not at all.
How do mutations relate to traits?
Mutations cause certain traits.
How do mutations natural selection geographic isolation genetic drift and migration contribute to biological evolution?
they contribute to biological evolution by how they've affected the evolution rate by increasing it or decreasing it
Why aren't all mutations bad?
Mutations are unnatural changes in the body or behavior. They are not always bad. For instance, the skin of the poison tree frog is not really bad at all. It rubs itself on poison leaves and mutated itself not to be affected.
What is the main cause of evolution?
All evolution begins with reproductive variation - the fact that all offspring are born nonidentical to both their parents and their siblings.
Why do mutations that occur in the skin or nervous system tend to have little effect on the evolution of a species?
Most mutations that occur have a neutral effect, or none at all, so they would not affect evolution. Organisms with mutations that cause detrimental impact typically will not survive; therefore, they will not reproduce, and the mutation will not be passed on, so the species will not be affected overall. Beneficial mutations are typically the only mutations that will affect an organism's posterity and the evolution of its species, but good mutations are very rare. This is why most mutations have little effect on the evolution of a species.
Are all mutation harmful?
Mutations that succeed [are beneficial] provide Evolution, so not at all.
How does chance play a role in evolution?
Evolution is caused by adaptations (favorable traits) that sometimes come from mutations. Mutations happen by chance, and this is how chance plays a role in evolution.
Do mutations cause change in allele frequencies within a population?
Yes, they can. Mutation is one of the four main mechanisms of evolution.
What best explains why mutations cannot cause evolution?
Biology has catalogued many traits produced by point mutations (changes at precise positions in an organism's DNA)--bacterial resistance to antibiotics, for example.To say otherwise is incorrect.But mutations do cause evolution. Biology has catalogued many traits produced by point mutations (changes at precise positions in an organism's DNA)--bacterial resistance to antibiotics, for example.To say otherwise is incorrect.
Evaluate the significance of mutations and repair of mutations to the evolution of sexual reproduction?
evaluate the significance of mutations and repairof mutations to the evolution of sexual reproduction
What can cause changes in DNA sequences?
mutations
Why dont all mutations cause cancer?
Mutations in the DNA can cause cancer, but it's not the only cause of cancer. Did you know you can get cancer if you are exposed to coals and tars too long?
Mutations are not able to cause things to evolve because?
Whoa. Mutations usually cause things to evolve, depending on the gene which is mutated. Mutations are changes in the genetic material of an organism resulting in changes in the gene pool (if the mutated traits are passed on). If the mutated gene is a desirable/advantageous one, then the chances that it willbe passed on to future generations is increased. In this process, which occurs over a period of time, old genes may be lost in the gene pool, resulting in evolution. I don't see how it doesn't cause evolution.
Is 'mutations are beneficial to organisms' a true statement about mutations?
Usually mutations have deleterious effects to the organism, but occasionally there are beneficial mutations. Such mutations drive evolution.
De Vries believed the process of evolution was driven by what?
Mutations. He was the father of saltation. The big jump idea that organisms could make large morphological changes by beneficial mutations all at once.
Why are mutations are important for evolution?
Mutations serve up the variations in organisms to natural selection. The reproductively successful variations pass on these successful traits to progeny and allele frequencies change because of this and this is evolution.
