Are they generally beneficial or harmful to the organism?

Question

Please weigh in with your understanding regarding mutations of genetic material.

Answer 1

Again, the answer is neither. Most mutations are neutral in effect. The vast majority of mutations occur in non-coding regions, many of the ones that do are silent or cause no change in protein function. Even looking at the few mutations that do have an effect, few of them occur in actively dividing cells so the effect is limited to a single cell.

However, if you are comparing the effect of mutations in the individual to the effect of mutations in the population, the likelihood of a mutation affecting an individual is higher.

Answer 2

Mutations are beneficial and negative.

For example, If there was a nuclear attack, most humans in a population would die of radiation poisoning, but some would survive because their genes had mutated to resist radiation.

Answer 3

mutations caused by harmful things like radiation, chemicals,viruses(even they can cause it) are harmful.
but that which occurs naturally & slowly over a long period of time so as to adapt with the changing conditions are beneficial.i think latter is better called evolution

Answer 4

They can be either.