AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Scientists have found hundreds of DNA and genetic changes (also called variants, mutations, or alterations) that help cancer form, grow, and spread. Cancer-related genetic changes can occur because: random mistakes in our DNA happen as our cells multiply.

Detailed explanation-2: -Genes contain information to make proteins, and proteins control many important functions like cell growth. Genetic mutations can change how proteins function. Some types of genetic mutations change proteins in ways that cause healthy cells to become cancerous.

Detailed explanation-3: -No; only a small percentage of variants cause genetic disorders-most have no impact on health or development. For example, some variants alter a gene’s DNA sequence but do not change the function of the protein made from the gene.

Detailed explanation-4: -B. Silent mutations are a result of the redundancy (degeneracy) of the genetic code: This is false, as silent mutations are the result of a base substitution that has no discernible effect on the amino acid sequence of a protein.