Have there been any mutations that have been beneficial to humans?

Question

Most of them just cause cancers. Have there ever been any that actual helped the person?

Answer 1

A woman was born with an extra kidney donated one to her father and she got an infection then lost a kidney but still had the last one.

When I find the link I'll give it to you.

Answer 2

In order to get a clear picture of what it is that we are actually talking about lets establish a few basic ideas.

1.) Mutations are generally caused by errors in the copying of DNA. Our cells are not perfect and make errors every so often.

2.) Cancer is a genetic disorder caused by cellular damage, while sometime based on mutations, this damage is generally caused by outside sources such as UVA/B radiation, Nuclear radiation, and other pollutants.

Generally speaking the type of mutation you are talking about occures at conception, when the DNA of the parents is combining. If a mutation in the DNA is to extreme it usually resorts in an abortion of the cellular structure, since the change prevents the cells from functioning properly. Now lets say we have a very small error, maybe only a few gene pairs get switched, since there have been no major complications from this switch the organism is born and grows and reproduces, passing on its special genetic switch. This switch might not be added to again, or it may find that the pair next to it switches and it can suddenly perform a function.
There is another factor which helps to guide the evolution/mutation of a species, and that is individual/environmental preferences. If one organism has a slight advantage over others, that increases the likely hood that it will pass on its genetic advantage to the next generation. In this way a specific trait can gain ground amoungst a species and help the entire population to survive which increases the chances of more helpful genetic mutations.
If you do not believe that genetic mutations occure simply go get a bit of DNA from both of your parents and compare it to your own. There will be a very small number of gene sequences that do not match either parents DNA. Some will just try and say it is an error in the technology, except that the results are reproducable time and time again.
Now, mutations do not occure over night, in general a great deal of time is required. But there are examples of evolution that we have seen in only a few short years. Such as moths in Europe that have changed their color to match the changing color of the trees on which they live. The color of the trees has changed due to pollution which we have caused and as such a trackable record of the moths appearence is available.(Thanks to the many bug collectors around the world.)
As can be seen from the various replys to this topic mutation/evolution is a hottly contested item. Some groups would like to believe that evolution does not exist so they can seperate themselves from other races. Afterall if evolution doesn't exist, those with differently colored skin aren't of the same kind, and this gives people a reason to justify their hate.
Now that I've got that off of my chest, on to your question. Have there even been any mutations that have been benefical to humans; Yes! The most obvious, but also a very basic mutation is color. (And here is a wikipedia link to a article that describes it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_skin_color ) The change in skin tone was caused by our migration away from the equator and into lower sunlight zone, so we needed to absorbe more sunlight to produce the same amount of vit. D.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Answer 3

From the begining it is look like that u have the wrong understanding.
The cancer is NOT the only side-effect from the mutatio. The mutation is actually the situation where is the nitrogeneous bases in our genetic code become exhange. (Wheteher it is because of the UV. chemical substances, your bad diet. And more). That cancer is occuring ONLY when the bases that are change is the screening bases. Which is the P53, that could controlled the cell develpment in our body.

That P53 protein is the main security advisor in our cell. The apoptosis (cell suicide) Is happened because it`s order.

So,, if that protein is loose than no more can controlled that cell from stop in develop. that is why the cancer may be happening.

Yeah,, there are still some possiblility that the mutation bring the beneficial. But it is such the gamblers. If the bases that lot is contain the bad properties, than replace it to the good one, You may become the super heroes like the one inthe movie. But remember that it is such AS THE GAMBLING.

Answer 4

LOTS. Everything that is your body right now is a mutation from something else. Evolution, trial and error, and preferential selection has created better versions of proteins/genes that have made you better than every other organism that has come before you. But the process isn't without errors, because it's not perfect, or ordered. Some of these mutations kill people before they are born, some lay dormant until later, and even others are triggered by environmental stimuli to form cancer.

But there are good things that happen too. Disease resistance, increases in size, health, reproductive health, nutrition/energy utilization... these have all been noted due to special mutations in genes. There are plenty of articles nothing that we are in the process of trying new things - seeing what things work to bring us better lives.

(To make omlets, you have to start with breaking some eggs)

Answer 5

You are absolutely correct ; there is rarely, if ever, a beneficial mutation.
The VAST majority are always detrimental to living organisms and that is very strong evidence which just about completely invalidates the theory of evolution.

Most die hard evolutionists, however, will not bring up that fact; in fact, they alway try to find SOME reason that the theory can still work.

There is also the problem that the Cambrian fossils appear suddenly in the fossil record with no transient forms .
You certainly never hear that mentioned;
That's correct: There ARE NO transitional forms in the fossil record for just about ALL of the species. They never have been found and never will.
It is becoming quite evident they never existed.

Only an HONEST evolutionist is going to be willing to admit to that fact. Most, however, have even deceived others to believe to the contrary in order to cover up that fact .

Answer 6

Yes--a mutation that caused a segment of DNA to repeat conferred immunity to some Northern Europeans during the Black Death. 1% of the decedents of these Europeans are immune to the AIDS virus.

Here's a link to a PBS website with more material.

P.S. Your statement that most of them just cause cancers is an interesting one. My understanding is that most mutations are irrelevant. Do you have any support for that statement?

P.S.S. I thought you might want a specific example, but that is by no means the only example. I could fill several columns with similar, but less dramatic, ones. Last, science has documented many transitional fossils for birds, whales, and, perhaps best documented of all, horses.

Answer 7

Mutations aren't all bad.. For example, having blue eyes is a mutation. There is a block somewhere in the genes that prevents a person with blue eyes from making the brown pigment. It's similar with blonde hair. So I guess that could be beneficial if it's true that blondes have more fun. ;)

Answer 8

Yes. Mitochondria invaded long ago, and it turned out to be beneficial to both host (us) and them (virus). This is the so-called 'energy factory' in each of our cells.

This is just one example of a 'parasite' then ended up being beneficial to both invader and host. For another example, the bacteria than are in our small intestines help digest food...when we drink too much alcohol, most die and we get diarrhea.

We are dependent on thousands of unknown 'mutations'. Not just DNA changes, but organisms that have invaded our bodies and found a home...

Answer 9

Some carry advantages in some situations, but disadvantages in others eg:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s388470.htm

"The good side of a bad gene
Friday, 12 October 2001

Screening out bad genes might not be such a good idea.
A common genetic mutation that makes people more susceptible to deep-vein thrombosis also makes them more fertile, German scientists have found.
...

...

According to molecular geneticist Professor Ron Trent, of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, many common genetic mutations confer advantages to those who carry them.

For example, the cystic fibrosis gene, carried by one in 22 people of Anglo-Saxon background, gives protection against dysentery. The gene for thalassaemia protects against malaria, and the gene for haemochromatosis protects against iron deficiency.

"All of these conditions have evolutionary advantages," said Professor Trent, "which is why it's a worry when people talk about selecting out genes from the population as a whole." "


See the page for more.

Some populations have adaptations to living at high altitude, too, eg:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_739204.htm

"Novel high-altitude adaptation found in Ethiopians
Tuesday, 3 December 2002



High-altitude dwellers have adapted to the thin oxygen levels

Ethiopians living at high altitudes have developed a unique way of adapting to low oxygen levels, using a mechanism previously unseen in populations in the Andes and the Tibetan plateau, according to new research."

I read about the Tibetan mutation, a few years ago. I cannot find the page now. IIRC, women carrying that mutation had better survival of their infants/ larger families / fewer miscarriages, living at high altitude. AFAICR, it was a mutation in haemoglobin.

Answer 10

There have been mutations in Africa that give immunity to Malaria, or was it the west Nile virus, either way, it's beneficial.

BTW, you don't seem to understand the nature of mutations. Mutations can be internal, and external. For instance, the immunities, or when someone happens to grow abnormally long toes, or when someone happens to have a double jointed limb.

And don't listen to that antievolutionist up there, he doesn't know what he's talking about...

Furthermore, here is an example to counter his assertion, rendering it false. http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/ap_050908_brain.html

Answer 11

yes

3 times we see genetic mutations for white skin in northern people.
1 time we see Europeans gain greater tolerance for cows milk due to genetic mutation.
We see a progression of small selections toward smaller teeth and less muscles in the jaw since farming was invented.