Multiple choice

Choose the primary purpose of the passage from the given options?

Very early in the study of genetics biologists began to pay particular attention to the aberrations now known as mutations; this investigation was initiated by de Vries at the turn of the century and brilliantly developed by Morgan and his school from 1910 on. A gene, by definition, is a living particle that reproduces itself, and nearly always it does so exactly. But occasionally, probably under the influence of some outside agent, it forms an imperfect copy of itself. It this altered gene is able to reproduce itself in its new form, the results is a mutation, which is evidenced in permanent change in some trait of the organism.

  1. Mutation is the antithesis of heredity.

  2. Mutation is detrimental to the reproduction of gene.

  3. Mutation occurs when genes do not reproduce itself.

  4. Mutation brings about a noxious change in the trait of an organism.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

“Mutation” means change, alteration. Under the influence of some external agent, genes while reproducing develop some defect, which causes altered gene or mutation in the gene. Thus, mutation is antithesis of heredity, as heredity insures the basic continuity and coherence of the organic form whereas mutation creates a diversity of genes. Hence, (1) is the answer. Option (4) is not correct as mutation brings about a change in the trait of an organism, which might not be harmful.

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