Answer:
a. Are all traits that are introduced by mutations adaptive? No
b. Do you think non-adaptive traits can be introduced into a population through mutations? Yes
Step-by-step explanation:
Mutation can be defined as a changed that occurs to the genetic material also known as the DNA present in our body.
Mutations are caused by an exposure of our bodies to to very harmful substances such as nuclear materials, harmful source of light, e.t.c.
Adaptation can be defined as process that helps living organisms to be able to adjust and blend into the new environment where they find themselves.
It is important to noted and know that the ability of an organism to adapt or adjust to a new environment can also be influenced by genetic mutations.
Adaptations can be classified into two.
a. Adaptive traits: Adaptive traits are genetic traits that help living organisms to survive and adjust to their new environment: examples are the colour of the animal skin or fur with some animal used as camouflage to hunt their prey or to hide from predators
Adaptive traits also help out in reproduction process in living organisms
b. Non Adaptive traits: These are traits that have nothing to do with survival or reproduction in loving organisms. Examples are the size of a person's ear lobe, the colour of a person's eyes.
Are all traits that are introduced by mutations adaptive?
Not all the traits introduced by mutations are adaptive. Mutations can caused both adaptive traits and non adaptive traits in humans.
Do you think non-adaptive traits can be introduced into a population through mutations? Why or why not?
Non adaptive traits can be introduced into a population through mutations and the reason why is because mutations affect the genetic material(DNA) of a human body. If the DNA that codes the non adaptive traits in a human body is genetically modified or affected it would cause changes in that trait.
Let's take for example the eye colour in humans, the human eyes colour ranges from light brown to black but we have observed that people have green eyes or blue eyes. This is a phenotypic and non-adaptive trait that may or may not be inherited from parents. If the genes that are responsible for coding and producing the eye colour in humans are affected by genetic mutations then it is very likely that there would be changes in the eye colour.
