Mutation
A) is consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg's ideal population.
B) occurs at high frequency in genomic DNA.
C) significantly shifts the Hardy-Weinberg population from equilibrium.
D) is the basis of the Hardy-Weinberg principle.
E) is essential for the generation of genetic variation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mutation is essential for the generation of genetic variation, as it introduces new alleles into a population's gene pool, thereby contributing to genetic diversity. The Hardy-Weinberg principle assumes no mutation (among other conditions) for a population to remain in equilibrium, indicating that mutations can disrupt this equilibrium by altering allele frequencies.