How does natural selection affect the frequency of mutations?
1 Answer
Natural Selection does not affect the frequency of mutations.
Explanation:
Mutations are the result of random accidental changes in the genome. The DNA is an informational code. Mutations are accidental changes, additions, and loses of information in the DNA.
Natural selection does not affect the frequency of mutations. Natural selection can only cause the extinction of mutations that are not well adapted to the environment,
An example of a helpful mutation is sickle cell anemia. A mutation causes an A to switch places with a T on the DNA. This mutations causes the red blood cell to break open in a sickle shape. This loss of information allows the white blood cells to attack the malaria organism that hides in the red blood cell. In malaria zones this mutation is helpful. In non malaria zones the trait is harmful and tends to be eliminated from the population.
Mutations may increase the number of variations available for natural selection to act on. Natural selection does not cause mutations. Natural selection can only act to eliminate harmful mutations. All mutations result in a loss of information not an increase.
