Genetic Variation (Overview)

Question 1

What’s the deal with (genetic/trait) variation?

Answer 1

Variation is the diversity of genetic traits between organisms in a population of the same species

Question 2

What are the causes that lead to a great genetic diversity or variation in traits?

Answer 2

• mutations
• sexual reproduction (fertilization)
• meiosis (genetic recombination, law of independent assortment, crossing-over)

Question 3

A. How do mutations cause variation?

B. How does mutated trait spread among a population of the same species?

Answer 3

A. The mutated expression of a gene can change the whole make-up of a trait, therefore creating a variant trait in an organism.

B. If the mutated trait is beneficial to the organism and is likely to pass down to offspring, the trait will be more common among the population.

Question 4

What can happen to genetic material during cell division that will cause variation?

Answer 4

• Genetic recombination (during meiosis)
• law of independent assortment
• crossing-over (during meiosis)