Question

Which best summarizes the effects of mutations on organisms?

Mutations are sometimes helpful, sometimes harmful, and sometimes neutral.
Mutations are usually harmful, sometimes neutral, and never helpful.
Mutations are sometimes neutral, sometimes helpful, and never harmful.
Mutations are always harmful, never helpful, and never neutral.

Answer 1

Mutations are sometimes helpful, sometimes harmful, and sometimes neutral.

Explanation: Mutations can have a range of effects—some reduce fitness (harmful), some increase fitness (helpful), and many have little or no effect (neutral). Beneficial mutations are rarer but drive evolutionary change.