A petri dish contains a population of cells. One of these cells acquires a DNA...
A petri dish contains a population of cells. One of these cells acquires a DNA mutation which enables it to grow and divide much more rapidly than the other cells around it. Which of the following statements best characterizes the mutation?
- A. The mutation will allow the cells that have the mutation to produce more daughter cells, so the mutation will become more prevalent in the population over time
- B. There will be no change in prevalence of the mutated cells over time.
- C. The cells with the mutation will produce just as many daughter cells as those without the mutation, so the mutation will become less prevalent in the population over time.
- D. The mutation will allow the cells that have the mutation to produce more daughter cells, so the mutation will become less prevalent in the population over time.
Correct Answer: A. The mutation will allow the cells that have the mutation to produce more daughter cells, so the mutation will become more prevalent in the population over time
Explanation
The question stem states that the mutation enables cells with the mutation to produce more daughter cells than the other cells around it. This is another way of saying that the mutation increases the fitness of the mutated cells. According to the principle of natural selection, an organism (or cell) with increased fitness will increase in prevalence in the population, since it can more readily reproduce than the other members of the population. Thus, the mutation will allow the cells that have the mutation to produce more daughter cells, so the mutation will become more prevalent in the population over time.