The effects of a mutation are not always visible. Choose a species, and explain how a biologist might determine whether a mutation has occurred and, if so, what type of mutation it is.

A mutation is a spontaneous and unpredictable variation that appears in the genetic material of a living being, which may or may not pass to the offspring. Mutations can occur at the level of the genetic material, on the entire chromosome or on several chromosome genes. This modification is not always perceived, but it is maintained in the genetic material and passes to the offspring, if it affects the reproductive cells, being the natural selection the one that allows it to appear in a whole population or species, as long as it brings benefits.

An example in this regard could be, when scientists apply the phytotechnical process with induced mutation to crops, which requires the genetic variation of the characteristics useful for improving crops. Historically, the domestication of crops has been influenced by ecological and agricultural conditions, by the preference of different foods. It is a fact that obtaining crops with higher yield facilitates population growth. This can be achieved by the scientist or biologist through phytotechnics, which consists of combining in one plant the best properties of several plants of the same species, instead of making a selection between good and bad plants.

This method is always accompanied by the use of germ plasma obtained by induced mutation. There are species of plants well used in this regard such as vegetable plants, which allows the method to improve their crops. But in general, this method of induced mutation has become the most used for the multiplication of plants by sexual reproduction.