Question

Which is an example of a beneficial mutation?

Answer 1

Mutations are the change that occurs in the sequence of the DNA or gene. The mutations are caused by radiation, faulty DNA replication, virus and also by several other factors. Some mutations are inherited and some are nonsense mutations that do not cause any kind of change in the living organism.

Complete answer:
The mutations lead to a change in the genetic makeup. The mutations can stay only in a single individual or can be inherited in subsequent generations.

To solve this question, we must know the effects of the mutations on the organisms.
The mutations can change the physical characteristics called the phenotype or also alter the genetic makeup or genotype of an individual. The mutations can also be lethal which can cause the death of an individual. Thus, we can say that some mutations are harmful as in the case of Down’s syndrome, or cancer which causes dysfunction of the normal activities taking place in our body. These kinds of mutations are also heritable.

Some mutations are also helpful to organisms. They help in benefitting the organisms for better survival. For example, antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an example of beneficial mutation. This mutation helps the bacterium survive in stress conditions. Another example is lactose intolerance. The beneficial mutations inherited over generations is termed adaptation.

Note: There are certain mutations that do not cause any useful or harmful effect on an organism. These are known as neutral mutations. It is estimated that around 30 mutations occur in an individual in one generation. Only 3 are the beneficial mutation and one is considered harmful. Rest are neutral mutations.