Differences in DNA among individuals, arising from mutation, recombination and sexual reproduction.
Mutation creates new alleles; meiosis shuffles them by crossing over and independent assortment; random fertilisation combines them. Variation is the substrate for natural selection and gives populations resilience.
Clonal organisms have little variation and are more vulnerable to disease.
Differences in DNA among individuals, arising from mutation, recombination and sexual reproduction.
Genetic Variation is one of the 54 topics in Genetics. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Genetic Drift, Gene Flow, Heritability.
The Irish potato famine devastated genetically uniform potato crops.
Genetic Variation is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Genetics that pair well with it include Heredity, Gene, Allele.
The closest topics to Genetic Variation are Genetic Drift, Gene Flow, Heritability, Heredity. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Genetic Variation. To practise the whole of Genetics, use the Genetics quiz.
Genetic Variation: Differences in DNA among individuals, arising from mutation, recombination and sexual reproduction. Genetic Drift: Random changes in allele frequency that have strong effects in small populations, including the founder effect and bottleneck. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Genetic Drift and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Genetics quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Random changes in allele frequency that have strong effects in small populations, including the founder effect and bottleneck.
🧬 GeneticsThe movement of alleles between populations through migration and interbreeding, reducing differences between them.
🧬 GeneticsThe proportion of phenotypic variation in a population attributable to genetic differences.
🧬 GeneticsThe passing of traits from parents to offspring through genetic material.
🧬 Genetics