AP BIOLOGY

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

Detailed explanation-2: -Mutations can also occur as the result of exposure to environmental factors such as smoking, sunlight and radiation. Often cells can recognize any potentially mutation-causing damage and repair it before it becomes a fixed mutation.

Detailed explanation-3: -Environmental mutagens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heterocyclic amines are known to bind to nucleotides, resulting in the formation of DNA adducts. Some DNA adducts are fixed as mutations through replication of DNA.

Detailed explanation-4: -Environmental mutagens are defined as chemical and physical agents in the environment that induce genetic mutations or increase mutation rates during the human life span [1]. Most mutagens act as human carcinogens or exert genotoxic effects on the next generation via germ cells.

Detailed explanation-5: -1: Three Types of Point Mutations. The chemical or physical agents that cause mutations are called mutagens. Examples of physical mutagens are ultraviolet (UV) and gamma radiation. Radiation exerts its mutagenic effect either directly or by creating free radicals that in turn have mutagenic effects.