E.      Mutations ANSWERS

Mutations occur as R A N D O M  (chance) events and are usually    
H A R M F U L.  Think about it! if these are truly chance events, and
the prior genes were obviously functional since the organism was healthy, then messing around with something good will likely HARM it. 

 

(1) Gene mutations in a cell can sometimes result in uncontrolled cell division which invades and takes over formerly healthy tissues.  This is a group of diseases called  C A N C E R.  

(2) Exposure of cells to certain harmful   E N V I R O N M E N T A L 
factors such as ...

       C H E M I  C A L S  (as found in this  T O B A C C O  plant)  

        and 

        harmful R A D I A T I O N    (such as from the sun)

        all increases gene mutations and thus increases the chance of cancer.

(3)   Examples of radiation that causes mutations are  ...

                 S U N L I G H T  (see above),

        X - R A Y S ,

        (Not that cartoon characters like Homer here have anything to worry
                 about except Bart.)

                      &    N U C L E A R   Radiation.

(4)   Examples of chemicals that cause mutations are ...

       A S B E S T O S,
                (as removed about 2000 from some of Shenendehowa school buildings.)

       &  P E S T I C I D E S  such as sprayed from crop dusting planes and
                 farm machinery.

(5)  Mutations can be passed on to offspring  only when they occur in the
 DNA of  S E X cells (G A M E T E S such as  O V U M  or  S P E R M).  

     If mutations occur in any other types of cells (non-sexy ones of course), they can be passed on only to other  B O D Y  cells. 

    Now, wasn't that a good answer set??

 

\