Question

question 9 of 20 :
select the best answer for the question.

1. gene mutations can be passed on to future generations and drive natural selection. choose the best description of how gene mutations are involved in evolution.

a. gene mutations can be dominant or recessive for an organism. dominant genes will be adaptive for future generations, but recessive genes won’t.

b. gene mutations often skip generations, with advantageous traits showing up several generations after the gene mutation was first introduced.

c. gene mutations can be helpful, harmful, or neutral for an organism’s survival. only mutations that are helpful in the organism’s environment would influence its survival and reproduction.

d. all gene mutations are passed to future generations and over many generations will contribute to the evolution of new species.

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Explanation:

• Option A: Dominant/recessive doesn't determine adaptiveness. A dominant mutation could be harmful, and a recessive one could be adaptive. So A is wrong.
• Option B: Mutations don't "skip generations" in the way described. Advantageous mutations can be selected for in the generation they appear if they help survival/reproduction. So B is wrong.
• Option C: Mutations have three effects (helpful, harmful, neutral). Only helpful ones in the environment aid survival/reproduction, driving natural selection and evolution. This matches evolutionary theory.
• Option D: Not all mutations are passed on (e.g., somatic mutations). Also, not all passed - on mutations lead to new species. So D is wrong.

Answer:

C. Gene mutations can be helpful, harmful, or neutral for an organism’s survival. Only mutations that are helpful in the organism’s environment would influence its survival and reproduction.