Question

A mutation causes a tomato plant to have much fewer, smaller leaves. Plants use their leaves to make food. Which best describes this mutation? It is harmful because it obviously affects the plant’s ability to survive. It is beneficial because it affects the plant’s physical appearance. It is neutral because it does not obviously affect the plant’s ability to survive. It is neutral because it affects the plant’s physical appearance.

Answer 1

Answer:

THE ANSWER IS A

Explanation:

EDGE 2020

Answer 2

Answer:

• It is harmful because it obviously affects the plant’s ability to survive

Explanation:

Mutations are alterations in the genetic code that may occur due to environmental or chemical mutagens. Mutagens, are substances or agents that induce changes in the genetic code.

Photosynthesis is a complex biochemical process; plants convert solar energy into chemical energy as sugars like the polysaccharide glucose. They also use inorganic carbon from $CO_{2$ along with $H_{2}O$.

Plants photosynthesize in their leaves- these organs contain tissues for  $CO_{2$ intake, along with the chloroplasts and mitochondria, the sites of photosynthesis and respiration. If the number of leaves are reduced, this reduces the amount of tissue capable of carrying out this essential process, limiting the plant's chance for meeting its energetic needs, and thus survival.