What is genetic recombination and evolution , Biology

Assignment Help:

What is Genetic Recombination and Evolution ?

Variation among the offspring of living organisms results from genetic recombination through sexual reproduction and mutation. Variation among offspring is important because variation is the driving force of evolution. In other words, if generations of offspring were exact "clones," or replicas of their parents in every way, over long periods of time these successive generations, which remained unchanged, would have exactly the same tolerances or abilities as the original parents.

We know that environmental conditions on Earth change over long periods of time. For instance, over the course of the Earth's life, temperature ranges can get lower or higher. Food resources can become scarcer, and predators or diseases can become more efficient. So if all the offspring were the same, generation after generation, they would have exactly the same tolerances to lower or higher temperatures in terms of reproductive ability. Then, if the Earth's temperatures gradually became too cold or too hot for them to reproduce effectively, the population might decrease: all of the individuals would be equally susceptible to higher or lower temperatures, and be unable to reproduce healthy offspring, if at all.

The same phenomenon can easily apply to other factors. For instance, if there were no individuals among the offspring that could eat a different food source and survive, the population would dwindle when their primary resource gradually got used up. Or if none of the individuals among the offspring were able to run a little faster to escape predators, they would all eventually fall prey to the predators. And if some of the population did not have higher resistance to diseases, the entire population would be equally vulnerable, succumb to sickness, and not be around to reproduce after a while!

However, if genetic recombination resulted in offspring that included several individuals different (adapted) enough to survive the changed environment over the course of many generations, they might survive the changed conditions and live to reproduce. In this way, each successive generation that produces varied offspring is able to change over time, carrying on the species.


Related Discussions:- What is genetic recombination and evolution

Nemerteans - regeneration in invertebrates, Nemerteans - Regeneration in In...

Nemerteans - Regeneration in Invertebrates Nemerteans as well possess remarkable regenerative ability, as even a small fragment can regenerate into a complete worm. Nemerteans

Scientific american article suggests some improvement, The human skeleton h...

The human skeleton has evolved from that of four-legged animals. Unfortunately, the adaptation is far from perfect; thus, our upright posture causes problems like back age and the

Determine some beneficial effects of phytates, Determine some Beneficial ef...

Determine some Beneficial effects of phytates? Some of the health promotive aspects of phytates include: 1) Phytic acid is a known antioxidant. Colonic bacteria produce oxyg

Disaccharides, DISACCHARIDES They are oligosaccharides composed of t...

DISACCHARIDES They are oligosaccharides composed of two monosaccharide residues . Three common disaccharides are    sucrose (glucose + fructose) = cane suger maltose

Explain lipase, Lipase Pancreatic lipase specifically  hydrolyses the p...

Lipase Pancreatic lipase specifically  hydrolyses the primary ester linkages i.e.  at the position 1 and 3 of triacylglycerols. The presence of bile salt helps  in  emulsificat

List a few important uses of food hydrocolloids, List a few important uses ...

List a few important uses of food hydrocolloids. A few important uses of food hydrocolloids are: to increase viscosity and to stabilize food products. Its other uses  include u

Define mineralizations and formation of new bone, Define Mineralizations an...

Define Mineralizations and formation of new bone? Vitamin D plays a role in the synthesis of a prominent non collage nous protein, osteocalcin, a vitamin K- dependent protein f

What are the three main parts of a eukaryotic cell, Q. What are the three m...

Q. What are the three main parts of a eukaryotic cell? The eukaryotic cell can be separated into two major portions: the cell membrane that separates the intracellular space fr

What are the main degenerative diseases of the heart, Q. What are the main ...

Q. What are the main degenerative diseases of the heart? The major degenerative diseases of the heart are heart failure, arrhythmias, valvular heart diseases, coronary insuffic

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd