What are the effects of mutations?

The effects that mutations (i.e., changes in a DNA sequence) have on organisms can vary widely. Some mutations can be beneficial while others are harmful, and some may have no effect whatsoever. Mutations that have neither a positive or negative effect on an organism is generally referred to as a neutral mutation. A typical example of this would be a silent point mutation. Silent point mutations result in changes to the DNA sequence without any subsequent change to the amino acid sequence. As a result, the protein maintains its full functionality. Mutations resulting in a positive effect are typically referred to as beneficial mutations. These mutations often lead to changes that help organisms adapt to their environment and improve their survival. This is often seen in bacteria, where mutations lead to antibiotic-resistant strains. Lastly, mutations that have a negative effect on an organism are referred to as harmful mutations. These typically result in proteins that either function improperly or lose their functionality completely, leading to genetic disorders or cancer.