AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -They lead to new versions of proteins that help organisms adapt to changes in their environment. Beneficial mutations are essential for evolution to occur. They increase an organism’s changes of surviving or reproducing, so they are likely to become more common over time.

Detailed explanation-2: -Most mutations are neutral, which means it has little effect on the organism. Some mutations are harmful when they decrease the fitness of an individual. However, if the mutation gives the individual an advantage on survival and reproduction, it is considered beneficial. Therefore, the answer is C.

Detailed explanation-3: -Mutational effects can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral, depending on their context or location. Most non-neutral mutations are deleterious. In general, the more base pairs that are affected by a mutation, the larger the effect of the mutation, and the larger the mutation’s probability of being deleterious.

Detailed explanation-4: -Changes in how cells work can sometimes improve the proteins that your cells produce and allow them to adapt to changes in your environment. An example of a positive genetic mutation is one that can protect a person from acquiring heart disease or diabetes, even with a history of smoking or being overweight.

Detailed explanation-5: -Examples of beneficial mutations in humans include: Mutations protecting humans from developing atherosclerosis (a dangerous build-up of fatty material in the blood vessels) Mutations in red blood cell genes have shown to provide up to 40% better protection against a severe form of malaria.