Genetic mutations are really interesting and have a big impact on how populations change over time. Let’s go over the main types of mutations and what they can do:

1. Point Mutations: These happen when there is a change in one single part of DNA, called a nucleotide. There are three kinds:

   • Silent: This type does not change anything in the protein.
   • Missense: This one changes an amino acid, which can affect how the protein works.
   • Nonsense: This produces a stop signal, causing the protein to be cut short.

2. Frameshift Mutations: These happen when nucleotides are added or taken away in a way that isn’t in groups of three. This messes up how the DNA is read and usually leads to proteins that don’t work at all!

3. Duplication: In this case, a part of the DNA is copied. This can increase the amount of a gene and might create new traits or even disorders.

4. Inversions: This is when pieces of DNA are flipped around. This can mess with how genes work or with important controls.

The effects of these mutations on populations can be really important. Good mutations can help living things survive and reproduce better, which helps evolution. But bad mutations might cause health issues or make it harder to survive.

Overall, the mix of different mutations helps create genetic variety, which is really important for adapting to changes in the environment.