Human populations show genetic diversity from "summary" of Human Biology by Cecie Starr,Beverly McMillan
Genetic diversity is a fundamental characteristic of human populations. This diversity arises from the fact that humans have a large number of genes, each of which can exist in multiple forms. These different forms of a gene are called alleles. As a result, individuals within a population can have different combinations of alleles for a given gene. This genetic diversity is further increased by the fact that genes are inherited from both parents. Each parent contributes one allele to their offspring, leading to even greater variability in the genetic makeup of individuals. Additionally, genetic diversity is also influenced by factors such as mutations, gene flow, and genetic drift. Mutations are random changes in the DNA sequence that can create new alleles. Gene flow occurs when individuals from different populations interbreed, leading to the exchange of alleles between populations. Genetic drift, on the other hand, refers to random changes in allele frequencies within a population due to chance events. Overall, genetic diversity is important because it provides the raw material for evolution to occur. Evolution is driven by the process of natural selection, which acts on the variation present within populations. By selecting for certain traits that increase an individual's reproductive success, natural selection can lead to changes in allele frequencies over time.- Genetic diversity is a key characteristic of human populations that arises from the presence of multiple alleles for each gene, inheritance from both parents, mutations, gene flow, and genetic drift. This diversity is essential for the process of evolution to occur through natural selection.
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