MUTATIONS

MUTATION IS THE PROCESS IN WHICH THE GENETIC MATERIAL OF A PERSON, PLANT OR AN ANIMAL CHANGES IN STRUCTURE WHEN IT IS PASSED ON TO THE OFFSPRING. THE RATE AT WHICH ANY ONE GENE MUTATES VARIES GREATLY FROM ONE GENE TO ANOTHER. MUTATIONS OF DIFFERENT SORTS APPARENTLY OCCUR HAPHAZARDLY AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED BY ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. ADAPTION OF A SPECIES TO A PARTICULAR HABITAT OR NICHE IS AFFECTED THROUGH NATURAL SELECTION OF THE FAVOURABLE MUTATIONS OUT OF THE MANY THAT OCCUR. THE SIZE OF THE POPULATION AND THE RATE AT WHICH A PARTICULAR GENE MUTATES AFFECTS THE ODDS OF MUTATION THAT A GENE ESTABLISHES ITSELF IN A POPULATION.