A change in a gene or chromosome is called?

• A. Mutation
• B. Variation
• C. Adaptation
• D. Inheritance

Answer: (A)

A change in the genetic material is called a mutation. This means a alteration to the DNA sequence in a gene or a change in the structure or number of chromosomes. Mutations can be small, like a single base swap, or larger, such as insertions, deletions, or chromosome rearrangements. Some mutations happen spontaneously, while others result from mutagens like radiation or certain chemicals. If a mutation occurs in a reproductive cell, it can be passed on to offspring, contributing to genetic variation in a population. Variation refers to the differences that arise, but the term for the change itself is mutation. Adaptation is the process by which those variations may become more common due to natural selection, and inheritance is about passing traits from parents to offspring.