Genetic diversity increases the chances of survival from "summary" of The Red Queen by Matt Ridley
In the world of living organisms, nothing is certain except uncertainty. Life is a constant struggle for survival, a battle against unpredictable enemies and ever-changing environments. In this fierce arena, genetic diversity plays a crucial role in determining which individuals will thrive and which will perish. Genetic diversity is the raw material of evolution, the fuel that drives the engine of natural selection. When a population possesses a wide range of genetic variation, it increases the chances that at least some individuals will have the traits necessary to survive and reproduce in a given set of circumstances. This diversity acts as a hedge against unforeseen challenges, providing a reservoir of potential adaptations that can be drawn upon when needed. Imagine a population of birds faced with a sudden change in climate, such as a shift in temperature or the emergence of a new predator. If all the birds in the population were genetically identical, they would all be equally vulnerable to the new threat. However, if the population exhibited high ge...
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