Which term denotes a change in the DNA sequence?

• A. Evolution
• B. Sex
• C. Variation
• D. Mutation

Answer: (D)

A change in the DNA sequence is called a mutation. Mutations are alterations in the nucleotide sequence of the genome and can arise from errors during DNA replication, exposure to mutagens, or other cellular processes. They can affect a single base or larger DNA segments, through substitutions, insertions, deletions, duplications, or inversions. Many mutations have little effect, some are harmful, and a few can even be beneficial, providing raw material for evolution. This concept is distinct from evolution, which is the broader change in allele frequencies in a population over generations, and from variation, which describes differences observed among individuals. Sex refers to the biological process of producing offspring. So the term that denotes a change in the DNA sequence is mutation.