What is a mutation? what causes mutations? what is the evolutionary importance of mutations?

A mutation is:

the changing of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations, caused by the alteration of single base units in DNA, or the deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger sections of genes or chromosomes.

What causes a mutation:

Acquired (or somatic) mutations occur at some time during a person's life and are present only in certain cells, not in every cell in the body. These changes can be caused by environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation from the sun, or can occur if an error is made as DNA copies itself during cell division.

Short Version: environmental factors, cell division, Change in DNA

What is the evolutionary importance of mutations:

A mutation is a change in DNA, the hereditary material of life. An organism's DNA affects how it looks, how it behaves, and its physiology. So a change in an organism's DNA can cause changes in all aspects of its life. Mutations are essential to evolution; they are the raw material of genetic variation.

Short Version: Without mutations then we wouldn't have evolution meaning if one new predator were to be introduced it can completely whipe out that entire species.

Hope this helps

answer; i believe the correct answer is (replication is not conservative);

i would say it is