Mutations can produce variation within an organism.

If the different
arrangements of nucleotides code for the same amino acid, a point
mutation will have no effect.

Very occasionally, a mutation occurs that produces a new and superior

protein. Most mutations are neutral, which means that they neither improve
nor worsen the chances of survival . Some mutations cause much damage,
disrupting the biochemistry of the whole organism. If a harmful mutation is
in a protein like the active site of an enzyme, the effect can be catastrophic.

Random mutations in the genetic material of the gametes are the cause of
many human genetic diseases. Examples include:

Thalassemia - the blood proteins are not manufactured correctly.

Cystic fibrosis - a membrane protein does not function properly.

Mutations in the somatic cells of the body as they divide result in many
different types of cancer . However, most mutations will have no observable
effects on the organism. This may be because:

the mutations occur in part of the non-coding DNA which does not affect
the way the genetic code is read

the code is degenerate and one small.change in the code may not alter
the amino acid coded for.