What are the SOURCES OF VARIATION?

Sources of variation:

Variations are more pronounced in sexually reproducing organisms. In sexual reproduction, production of offspring’s takes place by the fusion of two types of gametes. These gametes are formed by the reduction division. Thus, sexual reproduction introduces unlimited genetic variation into population. The more closely related the sexual partners are, the lesser are the variations in their offspring’s.

1)      Recombination: Recombination results in offspring that have a combination of characteristics different from that of their parents. Different types of combinations of the characters bring about the variation.

2)      Crossing Over:  At the time of gamete formation, crossing over occurs during meiosis division, which causes variations in genetic characters.

3)      Mutation: It is sudden heritable variations in genetic characters. It occurs in nature or it can be caused artificially in an organisms.