Mutations are a source of what type of variation?

• A. Genetic Variation
• B. Environmental Variation
• C. Epigenetic Variation
• D. Phenotypic Variation

Answer: (A)

Mutations introduce new alleles by changing the DNA sequence, so they create genetic variation within a population. When these changes occur in germ cells and are inherited, they increase the diversity of genotypes that natural selection can act on. Environmental variation comes from differences in environment and affects phenotype without altering DNA. Epigenetic variation involves heritable changes in gene expression that do not change the DNA sequence itself. Phenotypic variation includes traits influenced by both genetics and environment, but mutations specifically add to genetic variation—the differences in the genetic material underlying those traits.