Understanding Mutation and Genetic Variation

What is the primary role of mutation in genetics?

• To prevent natural selection

• To repair DNA damage

• To create new alleles

• To eliminate genetic variation

Which of the following is an example of a neutral genetic variation?

• Huntington's disease

• Cystic fibrosis

• Blood types

• Sickle cell anemia

What is lactase persistence?

• A mutation that prevents lactose digestion in infants

• A disease caused by lactose intolerance

• A genetic variation that allows adults to digest lactose

• A condition where lactase production stops in infancy

How do environmental agents like radiation affect DNA?

• They damage nucleotides and cause mutations

• They convert nucleotides into proteins

• They prevent DNA replication

• They enhance DNA repair mechanisms

What happens when DNA repair mechanisms fail?

• The cell becomes immune to mutations

• The cell becomes more efficient

• The cell may become cancerous

• The cell repairs itself automatically

Why is genetic variation important for populations?

• It reduces the need for natural selection

• It eliminates harmful mutations

• It allows populations to change over time

• It helps populations remain static

What is the role of DNA repair machines in cells?

• To create new alleles

• To fix mismatched nucleotides and repair DNA strands

• To increase mutation rates

• To eliminate all genetic variations

What is the relationship between mutation and evolution?

• Mutation is unnecessary for evolution

• Mutation provides the variation needed for evolution

• Mutation prevents evolution

• Mutation stops natural selection