You are reading a scientific article about cheetahs that have stripes down their backs instead of spots. The article refers to this as a genetic mutation. Though they have no negative impact on the cheetahs' fitness, why are the stripes nevertheless considered a genetic mutation?
A. Mutations are often adaptively neutral
B. Most mutations emerge as evolutionary disadvantages eventually.
C. Mutations rarely have an effect on the phenotype
D. Most mutations only cause inconsequential changes in appearance