Question

You are reading a scientific article about cheetahs that have stripes down their backs instead of spots. The article refers to this as a genetic mutation. Though they have no negative impact on the cheetahs' fitness, why are the stripes nevertheless considered a genetic mutation?

Answer 1

Answer:

Mutations are not necessarily bad or unfit for an organism. The word Mutation only refers to a change that has occurred overtime, not necessarily a "bad" change.

Explanation:

I am not an evolutionary biologist but I have passed my 12th grade recently. There are two types of mutations; one that renders the organism unfit for its current environment (such as cancers, birth defects, genetic diseases such as diabetes, Hemophilia, Colorblindness, etc,.) and one that actually benefits the organism and allows it to thrive and expand its gene pool (such as the Galapagos Island's Finches which Darwin discovered). So maybe those stripes help them blend in their environment more so that the adults can hunt better and the vulnerable young ones may stay safe.