Mutations That Occur Without a Known Cause are Known As

Question

Mutations that occur without a known cause are known as:
A) Spontaneous mutations
B) Induced mutations
C) Harmful mutations
D) Adaptive mutations
E) None of these

Accepted Answer

Spontaneous mutations are those that occur naturally in the course of DNA replication or repair without any known external cause or influence. Induced mutations, on the other hand, are mutations that are caused by external factors such as exposure to chemicals, radiation, or biological agents. Harmful mutations refer to mutations that have negative effects on the organism, while adaptive mutations refer to mutations that provide a selective advantage for the organism in its environment. Therefore, the best choice for the given question is A) Spontaneous mutations as they specifically refer to mutations that occur without any known external cause.