Why is there such a large amount of genetic variation within the human population?

Gene duplication, mutation, or other processes can produce new genes and alleles and increase genetic variation. New genetic variation can be created within generations in a population, so a population with rapid reproduction rates will probably have high genetic variation.

What accounts for patterns of genetic variation among humans?

A. Genetic drift, natural selection and sexual selection act to distribute traits, but new genetic variants arise only through mutation – copying errors during reproduction. We all have the same 35,000 or so genes, but some genes come in different forms, called alleles.

What causes the most genetic variation?

Genetic variation can refer to differences between individuals or to differences between populations. Mutation is the ultimate source of genetic variation, but mechanisms such as sexual reproduction and genetic drift contribute to it as well.

What is the importance of genetic variation?

Genetic variation is an important force in evolution as it allows natural selection to increase or decrease frequency of alleles already in the population.

How much genetic diversity is there in humans?

Perhaps the most widely cited statistic about human genetic diversity is that any two humans differ, on average, at about 1 in 1,000 DNA base pairs (0.1\%). Human genetic diversity is substantially lower than that of many other species, including our nearest evolutionary relative, the chimpanzee.

How does genetic inheritance help us understand population level variation resulting from evolution in humans?

Most variation occurs within populations. Analysis of human genetic variation also confirms that humans share much of their genetic information with the rest of the natural world—an indication of the relatedness of all life by descent with modification from common ancestors.

Is there more genetic variation in Africa?

The genetic diversity in Africa is greater than in any other region in the world. “Our study, one of the first data-driven, population-based genomic studies among African populations, found significant diversity in the genetic makeup of a population from the southern region of the African continent,” said Dr.

How does genetic variation make a population more resilient?

Genetic diversity within a population gives it a better chance of survival because the individuals could be well suited for a variety of circumstances, making the whole population more resilient if a disturbance occurs.