Mutations are small changes in our DNA. They can happen for many reasons.
Sometimes, mutations occur because of mistakes when cells split. Other times, they can be caused by things like radiation or certain chemicals.
You can think of DNA like a recipe. If a word in the recipe gets spelled wrong or changed, the dish might turn out differently!
Now, why are mutations important for evolution? Here are a few simple reasons:
Variation: Mutations create differences within a species. This means not all members of a group are the same. This is really important! It leads to different traits, like fur color or size.
Natural Selection: When the environment changes, some mutations might be helpful. For example, they might help an animal blend in better or run faster. Animals with these helpful mutations are more likely to survive and have babies.
Adaptation: Over time, these helpful mutations build up in a population. This helps species get used to their environment, which is necessary for survival.
In short, without mutations, there wouldn’t be any differences for natural selection to work with, and evolution would stop. These little changes in DNA are vital to the big story of life on Earth!
Mutations are small changes in our DNA. They can happen for many reasons.
Sometimes, mutations occur because of mistakes when cells split. Other times, they can be caused by things like radiation or certain chemicals.
You can think of DNA like a recipe. If a word in the recipe gets spelled wrong or changed, the dish might turn out differently!
Now, why are mutations important for evolution? Here are a few simple reasons:
Variation: Mutations create differences within a species. This means not all members of a group are the same. This is really important! It leads to different traits, like fur color or size.
Natural Selection: When the environment changes, some mutations might be helpful. For example, they might help an animal blend in better or run faster. Animals with these helpful mutations are more likely to survive and have babies.
Adaptation: Over time, these helpful mutations build up in a population. This helps species get used to their environment, which is necessary for survival.
In short, without mutations, there wouldn’t be any differences for natural selection to work with, and evolution would stop. These little changes in DNA are vital to the big story of life on Earth!