Module 8

 

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Enjoy this funny meme I found online while reading about genetic variation!

Genetic variation is the differences in DNA between individuals or populations and is caused by genetic drift, genetic recombination, mutations, and more. This process is something that is important for a population because having different alleles and DNA allows for a population as a whole to adapt, thrive, and evolve. The evolution of the population is a success in terms of science. If we didn’t have some genetic variation, a population would likely struggle if a disease swept in. We could also see problems with potential inbreeding if there wasn’t any variation in a population. We learned in a previous module the nasty side effect of inbreeding.

Even with this information, it is still assumed that selection eliminates genetic variation. However, genetic variation does not erode over time. How can genetic variation be present continuously in populations even though the selection is happening? Perhaps, it’s the mutation aspect of this situation. This is something that constantly occurs in life and is randomized. We will always see a new mutation from some species or population, and it ensures that there will thus always be at least some genetic variation. We can also see genetic drift and genetic recombination having a hand in this as well. Genetic drift is the variation in the frequency of different genotypes in a population, granted, this would only be a factor in smaller populations. Genetic recombination is the rearrangement of the DNA sequences. This ensures a difference in sequences within a population, thus, a variation in genetics. Overall, even though selection occurs within a population, there will always be some form of genetic variation.