Whats the difference between a mutation and a polymorphism?
The terms are used interchangeably. To be more precise, a polymorphism is a genetic variant within a population that has reached a certain level of prevalence, often set at 1% (or at a level that can not be sustained by repeated mutations). A mutation is a heritable change in the genetic material. A mutation in the mitochondrial DNA becomes a polymorphism if it becomes established within the population.
