AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Mutations are caused by environmental factors known as mutagens. Types of mutagens include radiation, chemicals, and infectious agents. Mutations may be spontaneous in nature.

Detailed explanation-2: -Mutations can result from errors in DNA replication during cell division, exposure to mutagens or a viral infection. Germline mutations (that occur in eggs and sperm) can be passed on to offspring, while somatic mutations (that occur in body cells) are not passed on.

Detailed explanation-3: -Answer and Explanation: The correct answer to this question is B. They always cause a change to an organism’s genotype. Regardless of the cause of the change, a DNA sequence is always altered when it mutates.

Detailed explanation-4: -Environmental factors such as food, drugs, or exposure to toxins can cause epigenetic changes by altering the way molecules bind to DNA or changing the structure of proteins that DNA wraps around.