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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a mutagen?
A
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
B
Distilled water
C
Oxygen gas
D
Glucose
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the term 'mutagen': A mutagen is an agent that causes changes or mutations in the DNA sequence of an organism. These changes can lead to genetic alterations, which may affect cellular function or lead to diseases like cancer.
Analyze the options provided: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, distilled water, oxygen gas, and glucose. Consider whether each has the ability to alter DNA structure or sequence.
Evaluate UV radiation: UV radiation is known to cause DNA damage by inducing the formation of thymine dimers, which disrupt the normal base pairing in DNA. This makes UV radiation a mutagen.
Evaluate distilled water: Distilled water is chemically inert and does not interact with DNA in a way that would cause mutations. It is not a mutagen.
Evaluate oxygen gas and glucose: Oxygen gas is essential for cellular respiration and does not directly cause DNA mutations under normal conditions. Glucose is a simple sugar used for energy and does not interact with DNA to cause mutations. Neither is considered a mutagen.