Many mutations have no effect on the proteins they encode. These mutations are considered neutral. Occasionally, a mutation may make a protein even better than it was before. Or the protein might help the organism adapt to a new environment. These mutations are considered beneficial. An example is a mutation that helps bacteria resist antibiotics. Bacteria with the mutation increase in numbers, so the mutation becomes more common. Other mutations are harmful. They may even be deadly. Harmful mutations often result in a protein that no longer can do its job. Some harmful mutations cause cancer or other genetic disorders.
Mike was siting on his porch watching an albino squirrel and a regular grey squirrel run across the road when suddenly a birds swooped down and grabbed the albino squirrel. Mike new it was a mutation that made the squirrel an albino but he thought it was very pretty and was sad to see it die.
Did the albino squirrel have an advantage or a disadvantage?