Mutations

In the process of comprehending evolution, it is essential to recognize mutations as one of the fundamental causes. Genetic variation ultimately leads to the creation of new traits within a population, and mutations are one method which can lead to this variation. In the scope of evolution, a mutation can be described as any alteration in a DNA sequence. To go one step further, DNA itself is the hereditary material of life and is the sequencing of human diversity. The sequence of DNA affects how an organism appears, how it behaves, and even the organism’s physiology. While mutations can be harmful from the general sense, mutations are critical to evolution because they provide the raw material for genetic variation, or the measure of genetic differences within a population or species. Genetic variation arising from a mutation is not always harmful, and, according to MedLinePlus, “If a trait is advantageous and helps the individual survive and reproduce, the genetic variation is more likely to be passed to the next generation.” The article continues by explaining that as individuals throughout various generations with the trait continue to reproduce, the population eventually becomes different from the ancestral one as a result of the increase of the advantageous trait (Medlineplus.gov).