if a mutation would be beneficial, is it more likely to occur?
a. yes, bec. it helps the species survive
b. No
the answer is B, however I'm not sure why. wouldn't a mutation that is beneficial be more likely to occur for the sake of the species ?
Mutations OCCUR at a rate determined by things like radiation to egg and sperm, environmental genotoxic chemicals and the stability of DNA molecules, NOT whether the mutation beneficial or not. The liklihood of SURVIVAL of a mutation will be higher if the change is beneficial.
The key word here is occur, not survive.
The correct answer is B: No.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, a beneficial mutation is not more likely to occur simply because it helps the species survive. This is because mutations are random, spontaneous changes in an organism's DNA. They are not influenced by whether they would be advantageous or disadvantageous from an evolutionary perspective.
Mutations occur due to various factors, such as errors during DNA replication, exposure to environmental factors like radiation or chemicals, or even the insertion of foreign DNA. The mutations that arise can be neutral, harmful, or beneficial. However, the occurrence of a beneficial mutation is relatively rare because it requires a specific change in the DNA sequence that improves an organism's ability to survive, reproduce, or adapt to its environment.
The randomness of mutations means that the majority of them are either neutral or harmful. In fact, most mutations are neutral, meaning they have no effect on an organism's fitness (ability to survive and reproduce). Harmful mutations are more common than beneficial ones because changes to the DNA sequence are more likely to disrupt the functioning of genes and lead to negative effects on an organism's survival or reproductive success.
Although beneficial mutations can provide an advantage to an individual organism, they are still rare events in the broader context of genetic variation and evolution. Therefore, the occurrence of a beneficial mutation is not more likely, and the correct answer is B: No.