What is the main cause of induced mutations?

The primary cause of induced mutations is exposure to environmental factors such as UV rays. Induced mutations occur when external agents interact with the genetic material of an organism, leading to changes in the DNA sequence. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is known to cause specific types of DNA damage, such as the formation of pyrimidine dimers, which can disrupt normal base pairing during DNA replication. If these lesions are not properly repaired by cellular mechanisms, they can lead to permanent changes in the DNA, hence resulting in mutations.

In contrast, natural selection processes are mechanisms that affect the survival and reproduction of organisms based on their traits, rather than directly causing mutations. While random errors during DNA replication can lead to spontaneous mutations, these are not induced by external factors and therefore fall under a different category. Inherited mutations from parents contribute to the genetic variation of offspring but are not classified as induced mutations, as they originate from the parental genetic material rather than from external environmental factors.