The statement, "The Mutation Accumulation hypothesis notes that mutations causin

The Mutation Accumulation hypothesis posits the following key points:

a. Many mutations that cause cell death are highly deleterious: These harmful mutations negatively impact an organism’s fitness.

b. Individuals carrying a mutation causing death before reproductive maturity have a lifetime reproductive success rate of zero: If a mutation leads to death before an individual can reproduce, their genetic contribution to future generations is effectively nonexistent.

c. Mutations causing death after reproduction has begun are selected against less strongly: Natural selection is less effective at eliminating mutations that occur after an individual has already reproduced. Such mutations may persist in the population.

d. Mutations in individual cells may cause cell death, but this does not necessarily affect the rest of the organism: Even if some cells experience mutations leading to death, the overall impact on the entire organism may be minimal.

In summary, the Mutation Accumulation hypothesis suggests that harmful mutations expressed later in life (after reproductive age) can accumulate over time due to weak natural selection, leading to aging-related phenotypes. 🧬