What is Mutation? – Genetics

The whole human family is one species with the same genes. Mutation creates slightlydifferent versions of the same genes, called alleles. These small differences in DNA sequencemake every individual unique. They account for the variation we see in human hair color, skincolor, height, shape, behavior, and susceptibility to disease. Individuals in other speciesvary too, in both physical appearance and behavior.

Genetic variation is useful because it helps populations change over time. Variations thathelp an organism survive and reproduce are passed on to the next generation. Variations thathinder survival and reproduction are eliminated from the population. This process of naturalselection can lead to significant changes in the appearance, behavior, or physiology ofindividuals in a population, in just a few generations.

Once new alleles arise, meiosis and sexual reproduction combine different alleles in newways to increase genetic variation.

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What is Mutation? - Genetics

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