Question

which statement is scientifically based?
○ mutations rarely occur.
○ all mutations are harmful.
○ some mutations can be contagious, like infections.
○ mutations are not passed from parent to offspring.

Explanation:

• For "All mutations are harmful": Mutations can be neutral or beneficial (e.g., some mutations help organisms adapt), so this is incorrect.
• For "Some mutations can be contagious, like infections": Mutations are changes in an organism's DNA and are not contagious (infections involve pathogens spreading, not genetic mutations spreading between organisms), so this is incorrect.
• For "Mutations are not passed from parent to offspring": Inherited mutations (germ - line mutations) are passed from parent to offspring, so this is incorrect.
• For "Mutations rarely occur": Mutations are relatively rare events as the cell has repair mechanisms to correct DNA errors, and the rate of spontaneous mutations is low.

Answer:

Mutations rarely occur.