Sources of

Genetic
Variation
Evolution: Evidence and Mechanisms
9-10 College Prep Biology
Ms. Clay
 Objectives and Standards
 After this lesson, students will be able to describe three
different ways how genetic variation comes into a
population, and why each is important.
 This lesson develops NGSS standard HS-LS4-2.

HS-LS4-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of

evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species
to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in
a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for
limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are
better able to survive and reproduce in the environment.
 What are some physical
traits that you have that are
different from some of your
classmates?

Think What are some physical

About traits that you have that are
different from your siblings or
It… other close family members?
What is Genetic Variation?

Genetic variation is a difference between

organisms caused by a difference in DNA.
Some species have more genetic differences
within the species than others, but except
for identical twins, no two individuals will have
the exact same genomes.
Not all differences between variations are
genetic – may also be caused by environmental
factors.
 Example:
Genetic Variation
 There are four known color variations in
Tigers:
 Orange tiger (orange with black stripes)
 White tiger (white with black stripes)
 Golden tiger (orange with brown
stripes)
 Snow white tiger (white with light brown
stripes)
 Genetic analysis has shown that golden,
white, and snow white tigers
have mutations in one or both of two
genes, CORIN p.H587Y and SLC45A2
p.A477V
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.
 Example:
Environmental Variation
 In an experiment with red rock crabs
(Cancer productus), crabs who were
fed harder food developed stronger
claws than those who were fed softer
food.
 In this case, the difference was caused
by environmental factors rather than a
difference in genes.

Think About It...

What would you expect to happen if two crabs that had been eating hard prey reproduced, and then
the offspring were placed in an environment with soft food?
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-ND.
How Do We Get Genetic
Variation?
New genetic variations come into a population
through:
New gene mutations
Individuals with different genes entering the
population (gene flow)
Sexual reproduction leading to new
combinations of genes
Mutations
Happen when the nucleotide sequence in a
gene changes
Depending on where the mutation happens
and how large of a section of DNA is affected, it
may have no effect, a small one, or a large one.
A mutation may be passed on if
It is in a germ-line cell (egg or sperm)
The individual can successfully reproduce
Mutations are Random
When a gene mutates, it’s not “trying” to
change a trait, if the new genotype is useful or
harmful, it just happened by chance.
There are limits to what a mutation can do –
developing a new complex trait requires many
individual gene changes, and don’t expect a
pig to just sprout wings or a human to get X-Men
style powers!

This Photo by Unknown Author is

licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
 Causes of Mutations
 Errors during copying of DNA
One or more incorrect
nucleotide bases are placed
during DNA replication and if the
error is not fixed, it becomes a
mutation.
Thought to be the most common
source of the mutations involved
in evolutionary change.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.
 Radiation, harmful chemicals, or
viruses
 Cause sections of DNA to break
down and they may not be
repaired correctly.
 Going from Genotype to
Phenotype
DNA mRNA Protein

• Double • Single strand • Enzymes

strand of of • Structural
nucleotides nucleotides Proteins
that forms that transmits • Hormones
the information
• Motor
“blueprint” of for making a
proteins
the organism. protein
• Etc.
 Example:
Genotype and Phenotype

Golden tigers have a

nucleotide change C>T in a
specific place.
Changes functioning of a
gene that controls pigments
being produced.
Since the gene is recessive,
tigers with two copies of the
gene mutation have lighter
brown stripes instead of the
wild type black stripes.

This Photoc by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

Gene Flow

When an individual of a species from a different

location moves into a population, it carries some
genetic differences.
Interbreeding between that individual and
individuals already there changes the gene
pool of the population.
 Sexual Reproduction
 How genes are "shuffled"
into new combinations.
 You receive one copy of a
gene from each parent.
 If a parent has two
different versions of a
gene, two offspring might
get the same version or
different ones.

Think About It...

How do genes get shuffled into new combinations during sexual reproduction?
 Meiosis and Crossing Over
• Genes on
different
chromosomes
are randomly
distributed
during meiosis.
• Genes located
on the same
chromosome
may also be split This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.
because of
crossing over.
How Does Meiosis Lead to
New Traits?
Many traits are caused by a combination of
different genes.
Mixing of genes can lead to new combinations
that didn't exist in either parent.
Example:
Multiple-Gene Traits

 Snow white tigers

have two different
recessive genes
One shared with
white tigers
One shared with
golden tigers

Think About It...

If a population of white tigers and a population of golden tigers mixed, which phenotypes
would you expect to see after a few generations?
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.
 When genes do travel
together: Linkage

 Genes that are located

closely together on the
same chromosome are
more likely to be passed
down together.
 Less space for a crossover
event to happen between
them.
 Example: white tigers also
have a gene for crossed
eyes.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.
From Mutation to Adaptation
Having individuals with different genes is only the
first step.
For a gene to become more common, it must
give the organism some kind of advantage.
Many mutations have no effect or a neutral
effect.
May also have a negative or lethal effect.
Adaptation: the adjustment or changes in
behavior, physiology, or structure that make an
organism better suited to its environment.
 Would a genetically diverse
population have an
advantage or
disadvantage in a
Think changing environment?
About Why?
It…