Question

select the correct answer.
duplication in the gene encoding a protein involved in vision has enabled humans to acquire trichromatic vision, which is the ability to distinguish between red, green, and blue colors. which type of mutation is this?
a. somatic mutation
b. silent mutation
c. neutral mutation
d. harmful mutation
e. beneficial mutation

Explanation:

A somatic mutation occurs in body cells, not passed to offspring, and this gene change is heritable for trichromatic vision. A silent mutation changes DNA but not the protein product, which is not the case here as a new vision trait arose. A neutral mutation has no positive or negative effect, but this mutation provided a new beneficial ability. A harmful mutation reduces fitness, which is opposite of this trait that aids color discrimination. A beneficial mutation improves an organism's survival/reproductive fitness; trichromatic vision helps humans distinguish colors, aiding foraging, detecting threats, etc., so this fits.

Answer:

E. beneficial mutation