How do mutations lead to genetic variation?

Answer 1

So first we got to ask what exactly is a mutation? A mutation occurs when there is an error during DNA Replication. Sometimes that error will inhibit that organism's ability to survive in that environment, and that mutation would not persist for very long. Sometimes that mutation will increase the organism's ability to survive and with the right selective pressures, that organisms DNA will become more common. Lastly, that mutation can lead to no effects on an organism's survival. For example, a blonde vs a brunette human or someone with blue eyes vs a person with brown eyes. These genetic mutations have a very little effect the organism's ability to survive in that environment, if any, and are often passed on with little consequence, leading to genetic variation.