What are the effects of mutations on the organisms?

Mutations refer to alterations in a sequence of DNA. The effects of mutations on an organism can vary widely and are categorized as neutral mutations, beneficial mutations, or harmful mutations. 

1. Neutral mutations: These are mutations in which a change in the DNA sequence had neither a positive or negative effect on the organism. Silent point mutations are a type of neutral mutation as they change the DNA sequence but do not change the amino acid sequence in the proteins they encode, so the protein retains its full functionality. 
2. Beneficial mutations: These are the most common type of mutations. They result in a positive effect such as improving an organism’s chances of survival or reproduction by creating new versions of proteins that help the organism better adapt to its environment. Beneficial mutations are important for the purpose of evolution. An example of beneficial mutations is observed in bacteria, where a change in DNA sequence results in antibiotic-resistant strains. 
3. Harmful mutations: Harmful mutations have a negative effect on an organism. They may lead to genetic disorders or cancer by creating new proteins that may either not function properly or not function at all.