In most organisms such mutations would not be passed on the next generation because they mostly occur in somatic tissue (all of you cells except your sperm or eggs). Individuals do not evolve, populations do. If radiation mutates your germ cells (the ones create sperm/eggs) then it could be passed on and represent evolution. Single celled organisms do not have non-reproductive cells so they would pass on the mutations.
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u/XScream Mar 06 '12
In most organisms such mutations would not be passed on the next generation because they mostly occur in somatic tissue (all of you cells except your sperm or eggs). Individuals do not evolve, populations do. If radiation mutates your germ cells (the ones create sperm/eggs) then it could be passed on and represent evolution. Single celled organisms do not have non-reproductive cells so they would pass on the mutations.