Ahhh mutation? what?

Question

If a mutation occurs, once consequence is that the allele frequencies in a population change. If in a population you are studying, the allele frequencies change, does this prove that a mutation has occurred? Explain why or why not.

I feel like the answer is no, because I feel like something else could have caused it to happen but I don't know what. Can someone explain this to me?

Answer 1

No, because natural selection, drift and gene flow can all change allele frequencies. For more, start here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allele_freq...

theboy295: In case you're curious, an organism in a population does not adapt to an environment due to selection. Selection occurs via differential survival and reproduction at the population level -- individuals either do well or poorly in a given environment (i.e., they do not "adapt" in the technical sense of that word).

Answer 2

i dont think so, i think the organism in that population can adapt to the environment through natural selection. a mutation doesnt have to occur