Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2025 – Comprehensive Prep

Mutations refer to changes in the DNA sequence of a gene that can alter its function and create new alleles. These modifications can occur naturally due to errors during DNA replication or can be induced by environmental factors such as radiation or chemicals. The significance of mutations lies in their ability to introduce genetic diversity within a population, which is a key mechanism for evolution and natural selection.

Adaptations describe characteristics or traits that have evolved in response to environmental pressures, but they do not specifically pertain to changes at the genetic level. Recessive traits refer to the expression of specific alleles in a phenotype, typically only when two copies of the recessive allele are present, rather than the creation of new alleles themselves. Phenotype encompasses the observable characteristics of an organism, which result from the interplay between genetics and the environment, but does not directly indicate changes in gene sequences. Thus, mutations as a concept fundamentally focuses on the actual alterations in genetic material that produce variations in alleles.