Question

Genetic variation is an important force in evolution as it allows natural selection to increase or decrease frequency of alleles in a population. One source of variation is mutation. Consider the choices below. Which of the following would NOT be a source of increased genetic variation in a population?

a. immigration into the gene pool
b. random mating between organisms
c. crossing over during meiosis
d. geographic isolation

Answer 1

D

Step-by-step explanation:

Isolation would not cause any genetic variation. When the population doesn't have interactions with other populations, there is a lower chance of mutation occuring.

Answer 2

If we're looking for a choice that would NOT be a source of increased genetic variation in a population, the answer would be d. geographic isolation. Geographic isolation involves the separation of a population into two or more geographically isolated subgroups, which can lead to the development of genetic differences between the subgroups over time. However, this process tends to reduce genetic variation within each subgroup, rather than increasing it. In contrast, immigration into the gene pool, random mating between organisms, and crossing over during meiosis can all introduce new genetic variation into a population, and are therefore sources of increased genetic diversity.