Question

Which statement is scientifically based?
Mutations rarely occur.
All mutations are harmful.
Some mutations can be contagious, like infections.
Mutations are not passed from parent to offspring.

Answer 1

"Mutations rarely occur." is the only statement that can be taken as scientifically supported, but it needs nuance.

- Per base-pair or per gene, spontaneous mutation rates are low (e.g., ~10^−8–10^−9 mutations per base per generation in humans), so any specific nucleotide changes are rare events.
- However, because genomes are large and many cells divide, organisms acquire many mutations overall, and some mutations are common in populations.
- The other statements are false: not all mutations are harmful (many are neutral, some beneficial); mutations themselves are not contagious (though mutated pathogens can spread); and mutations can be passed to offspring if they occur in germ cells.