Genetic mutations play a big role in evolution. They create differences in the genes of living things, which helps populations change over time.

Types of Mutations:

• There are different kinds of mutations.
• Point mutations happen when there is a small change in a single DNA building block. These make up about 70% of all mutations.
• Sometimes pieces of DNA are added or removed, which can change how genes are read. This can lead to proteins that don’t work right.

Mutation Rate:

• Humans get about 1 in 100 million DNA changes for each part of their genes for every generation.
• This adds up to about 60 to 100 new mutations for each person.

Natural Selection:

• However, out of all these mutations, only 1 in 1,000 is helpful. This shows how important genetic differences are for helping living things adapt and survive.

Genetic Diversity:

• Having a mix of different genes in a population makes it stronger.
• For example, groups of living things that have a mutation rate of at least 0.5% are more likely to survive tough conditions in their environment.

In simple terms, genetic mutations are important because they give evolution something to work with. They help species change and adapt over time.