Question

Imagine a population of 2n=2 organisms that reproduce sexually via outcrossing. For each question below, respond with "yes", "no", "it's complicated", or "not enough info", and explain.

a. For this population, will mutation be a source of genetic variation? Explain.

b. For this population, will crossing over be a source of genetic variation? Explain.

c. For this population, will independent assortment be a source of genetic variation? Explain

Answer 1

For a sexually reproducing population having 2n = 2, the following will follow in different case:-

a) yes, mutation will be a source off genetic variation because mutation is alone capable of bringing the required changes in the genome to cause variation. It can lead to point mutations or insertion or deletion, any of the type of mutation follows with the change in nucleotide sequence and thereby leading to different genetic combinations.

b) yes, crossing over will also lead to genetic variation in the given population as during crossing over the segment of chromosome are exchanged between the paternal and maternal chromosome which thereby led to the formation of new chromosome having different genetic sequence than the previous one, and the point of crossing over is random thereby leading to the random set of gene exchanged between the sister chromatids of homologous chromosome and so it leads to genetic variation.

c) No, independent assortment of genes will not bring the genetic variation among the individuals in this population having one set of chromosome because it is based on the random pairing of homologous chromosomes during meiosis 1. But, here only one chromosome is present so it rules out the possibility of random pairing of different chromosomes and thereby can't to genetic variation in this case.

It is the phenomenon by which two genes are independently assorted in the progeny and the inheritance of one gene don't interfere with the inheritance of other gene. It helps in reshuffling of the parental gene into unique combinations to bring about the different characters in Progens by the random pairing of different chromosomes during the metaphase l .