Elec 2 Notes

Genetic Variation

Genetic variation refers to differences among the genomes of members of the same

species.

Genome - all the hereditary information—all the genes—of an organism. For instance,

the human genome contains somewhere between twenty and twenty-five
thousand genes.

Genes - units of hereditary information, and they carry instructions for building proteins.

 The genes that are encoded within these proteins are what enable cells to
function.

 Most organisms that reproduce sexually have two copies of each gene, because

each parent cell or organism donates a single copy of its genes to its offspring.

Genes can exist in slightly different forms, called alleles, which further adds

to genetic variation.

The combination of alleles of a gene that an individual receives from both parents

determines what biologists call the genotype for a particular trait, such as hair texture.
The genotype that an individual possesses for a trait, in turn, determines the phenotype
—the observable characteristics—such as whether that individual actually ends up with
straight, wavy, or curly hair.

Genotype vs phenotype: what’s the difference?

An individual’s genotype is the combination of alleles that they possess for a specific
gene. An individual’s phenotype is the combination of their observable characteristics
or traits. While an organism’s genotype is directly inherited from its parents, phenotype
is merely influenced by genotype. Environmental factors can also affect phenotype. 

Genetic variation within a species can result from a few different sources. 

 Mutations- the changes in the sequences of genes in DNA, are one source

of genetic variation.
 Gene flow- the movement of genes between different groups of organisms.
Finally, genetic variation can be a result of sexual reproduction, which leads to
the creation of new combinations of genes.

Genetic variation in a group of organisms enables some organisms to survive better

than others in the environment in which they live. Organisms of even a
small population can differ strikingly in terms of how well suited they are for life in a
certain environment.

Ex. Moths of the same species with different color wings. Moths with wings
similar to the color of tree bark are better able to camouflage themselves than moths of
a different color. As a result, the tree-colored moths are more likely to survive,
reproduce, and pass on their genes.

Natural selection, and it is the main force that drives evolution.

Crossing over, independent assortment, and random fertilization are important

genetic mechanisms that contribute to genetic diversity in sexually reproducing
organisms.

Genetic variation comes from:

1. Crossing over- the exchange of genetic material between homologous

chromosomes during meiosis, which results in the production of recombinant
chromosomes. This process occurs during prophase I of meiosis and is
facilitated by the formation of chiasmata, which are physical connections
between the paired homologous chromosomes (Alberts et al., 2017).

2. Independent assortment- the random arrangement of homologous

chromosome pairs during meiosis, which results in the production of gametes
with unique combinations of chromosomes. This process occurs during
metaphase I of meiosis and is facilitated by the alignment of homologous
chromosome pairs at the equator of the cell in a random orientation (Alberts et
al., 2017).

3. Random fertilization- the chance encounter between a single egg and a single
sperm during fertilization. Since each gamete produced by an individual is unique
due to crossing over and independent assortment, the combination of any two
gametes during fertilization results in a genetically unique offspring (Sadava et
al., 2014).

Together, these genetic mechanisms contribute to the immense genetic diversity

observed within populations of sexually reproducing organisms.

References:
Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2017). Molecular
biology of the cell (6th ed.). Garland Science.

Sadava, D. E., Hillis, D. M., Heller, H. C., & Berenbaum, M. R. (2014). Life: The science
of biology (10th ed.). W.H. Freeman.