The survival of a species depends on its ability to adapt to changes in the environment. A species must be capable of surviving and reproducing despite changes to food sources, climate, or threats from predators. Which statement correctly describes a way that mutations increase the likelihood that a species will survive in a changing environment?

Question

The survival of a species depends on its ability to adapt to changes in the environment. A species must be capable of surviving and reproducing despite changes to food sources, climate, or threats from predators. Which statement correctly describes a way that mutations increase the likelihood that a species will survive in a changing environment?
Mutations are the cause of disease in the species.
Mutations are not harmful when they occur in somatic cells of the species.
Mutations are a source of variation in the species.
Mutations are always passed on to subsequent generations of the species.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The statement that correctly describes a way that mutations increase the likelihood that a species will survive in a changing environment is:

Mutations are a source of variation in the species.

Mutations can lead to genetic diversity within a population, providing a pool of traits that may be beneficial for adaptation to new environmental challenges. This variation can increase the chances that some individuals have advantageous traits that enhance survival and reproduction in changing conditions.