Answer :
Final answer:
Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or neutral depending on their effects on an individual's survival and reproduction.
Explanation:
Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or neutral depending on their effects on an individual's survival and reproduction. Beneficial mutations can improve an organism's chances of surviving and reproducing, such as resistance to insecticide in mosquitos or black coloration in peppered moths during the Industrial Revolution. Neutral mutations have no effect on survival or reproduction, while harmful mutations can negatively impact an individual's survival and reproduction, leading to genetic disorders or cancer. Overall, mutations are essential for evolution as they increase genetic variation and the potential for individuals to differ.
