Question

which situation would be most likely to cause a dna mutation?
a. a person spends one hour each day under the ultraviolet rays of a tanning bed.
b. a culture of cells is placed in a chamber and exposed to high pressure for 10 hours.
c. a maple tree becomes dormant to prevent water loss during a drought.
d. a wood frog in a lake is exposed to temperatures below 0°c during the winter months.

Explanation:

To determine which situation causes a DNA mutation, we analyze each option:

• Option A: UV rays from tanning beds are a mutagen. UV radiation can damage DNA, causing mutations (like thymine dimers), so this is a strong candidate.
• Option B: High pressure on cells doesn't typically cause DNA mutations. Pressure affects cell structure/function but not DNA sequence directly.
• Option C: A maple tree going dormant is a physiological adaptation to drought, not a mutagenic event.
• Option D: A wood frog in cold temperatures is a natural adaptation (like freezing tolerance), not a cause of DNA mutation.

Among these, UV exposure (Option A) is a known mutagen that alters DNA.

Answer:

A. A person spends one hour each day under the ultraviolet rays of a tanning bed.