Hi, now we will try to understand how the accumulation of variation during reproduction occurs in an organism. First of all, understand what is variation and what is reproduction. Variation is a term that means any change to the features or traits of an organism. Have you noticed that all the apples are not the same in all features?
If you notice carefully you will find differences between them which is due to genetic variation. Now what is reproduction is nothing but a mechanism to sustain the existence of an organism. If they do not reproduce do not increase their number then what happens when all the present organisms of this species would die. Have you noticed fruit is produced from flowers and seeds inside the fruit are used to multiply the number of the plant is not an example of reproduction?
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Accumulation of Variation During Reproduction:
Now we understand what is variation and what is reproduction. Now we have to understand how variation appears during reproduction.
Accumulation of Variation During Sexual Reproduction:
Variation may occur in different ways in an organism but sexual reproduction is a major reason for the variation. During sexual reproduction, gametogenesis occurs and during gametogenesis, cells divide by meiosis cells division. During meiosis cells division an event occurs, called crossing over which makes the gene combination over the chromosome change and a genetic variation occurs in the progeny.
This genetic variation may be helpful for the organism or may be harmful to the organism depending upon in which environmental conditions they live. Various appearances during reproduction make the organism successful in nature if the variation is supportive in nature. If the variation does not help the organism to sustain adverse conditions then with time the organism may become extinct.
Sometimes the variations are very minor which can not be observed but it gathers with time and after some time it can express their effect. Now think about the antibiotic resistance of a bacteria cell can you relate it with a variation. You can not predict what variation would occur during reproduction because crossing over occurs randomly and new genetic combinations also occur in a random manner.
Accumulation of Variation During Asexual Reproduction:
Now think that during sexual reproduction genetic recombination occurs so variation occurs but what happens during asexual reproduction. Does variation also occur in the case of asexual reproduction?
Yes, it occurs because during asexual reproduction crossing over does not occur but there may be any chance to appear any error during DNA replication. Error in DNA replication can cause genetic recombination which is responsible for variation during asexual reproduction.
Variation is necessary for the purpose of evolution because if new traits do not appear then how new species will appear. Few variations which help the organism to adapt to adverse conditions help the organism to win in the struggle against adverse conditions.
Example of Accumulation of Variation During Reproduction:
In everyday life, you will find many examples of variation. For example, the grapes you find nowadays are seedless but actual grape species have seeds so it is an example where variation occurs. Now rose is available in various colors is not an example of variation.
The not only variation in colors now the same type of flower available in various shapes and sizes are also an example of variation. The feather color of different types of butterflies is also varied. Sometimes a child looks completely different from both of their parents which is also a result of the variation.
Different hair colors, different Irish colors, different skin colors all are due to variation during reproduction. We know that some bacteria can tolerate very high temperatures and how it is possible due to a specific variety that helps the bacteria to tolerate such high temperatures.
Benefits of Accumulation of Variation During Reproduction:
There are many benefits of variation during reproduction. Due to variation, we can produce hybrid organisms for our benefit. Variation provides the raw material required to adapt an organism to adverse conditions and to evolve with time. Due to variation, we can differentiate among the organisms in a specific group.
Topics Related to “Accumulation of Variation During Reproduction” :
| Definition and Examples of Allele |
| Budding as Vegetative Reproduction |
| Binary Fission in Amoeba and Bacteria |
| Apomixis and Its Types |
| Adaptation in Aquatic Plants |
Reference: Accumulation of Variation During Reproduction
What are the Examples of Variation?
Think why all the siblings of a parent are not equal in all characters, it is due to variation, Irish color, hair color, skin color may be different in different siblings of a parent.
Does Variation Occur Every Time During Reproduction?
Generally, variation occurs during sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction produces a clone of the parent organism, variation is very very less in asexual reproduction.
How Variation Occur during Sexual Reproduction?
During sexual reproduction, gametes are formed through meiosis cell division which involves crossing over, and crossing over cause the rearrangement of genes on chromosomes.
What is the Importance of variation?
Variation causes genetic recombination which can give the organism a character that can help the organism to survive a certain adverse condition and it may lead to evolution.
Are all Variation Helpful for an Organism?
No, it is not sure that which variation is good and which ones are bad, if a variation help to survive in a certain adverse condition then it is a good variation otherwise not.
Examples of Variation in Our Everyday Life.
Sometimes in our garden, we plant different types of rose trees with different colors are due to variation, due to variation we are able to produce disease-resistant crops.
How Variation Occur during Asexual Reproduction?
During asexual reproduction variation generally does not occur or maybe occur to a very little extent due to error in DNA replication or due to environmental factors.
What is the Cause of Genetic Variation?
Genetic variation occurs in sexual reproduction during meiosis cell division due to crossing over which cause genetic recombination but in asexual reproduction external factor cause variation.
Why Variation is important for Evolution?
Variation over a large time period can give rise to a new species because some variations help the organism to adapt to adverse conditions which increase its productivity.
What is the Disadvantage of Genetic Variation?
Genetic variation can cause mutation in an organism which may be harmful to that organism and if the mutation becomes very harmful then it can cause reduced productivity.
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