Variations occur due to struggling between organisms for food, shelter, and other resources in an environment, which makes the organisms more adaptive and strong in comparison to other struggling organisms that fail to adapt or dominate in the struggling environment. So, if an organism develops variation, it means that while competing for natural resources, it was able to survive by adapting to an environment with fewer resources. This adaptation results in the occurrence of variations in the body, which help you survive in adverse conditions. So, variations are important for species because they make organisms more adaptable to unfavorable conditions. Variation makes an organism a better version of itself.
Importance of Variation
- Genetic and body modifications could make it harder for an organism to survive in its ecosystem. But we know that the environment is always changing. It changes because of changing factors like the weather, temperature, the availability of resources, etc. If a specific species is too resistant to adapt to these environmental changes, it cannot exist in that ecosystem. Hence, variation is important to withstand the changes in the environment.
- Differences within a species help in its ability to adapt to a given environment and increase its chances of survival.
- Certain members of a population can adapt to a changing environment due to variation. More genetic diversity within a population typically allows more phenotypic diversity because natural selection only affects phenotypes directly.
- Certain novel alleles improve an organism’s capacity for survival and reproduction, which guarantees the allele’s persistence in the population. Because certain individuals present in a population may survive despite a changing environment, here genetic variation is beneficial for better chances of survival.
- The species benefits from variations because they can better adapt to their environment and increase their chances of surviving.
FAQs on the Importance of Variation
Question 1: What is the importance of meiosis in Variation?
Answer:
During the time of cell division, cells ensure that each cell gets an equal amount of chromosomes. During meiosis a process known as recombination, which produces the genetic variation.
Question 2: How does genetic variation occur in individuals?
Answer:
Genetic variation is the term used to describe variations in a population’s genetic structure. Major causes of genetic variation include,
- Genetic variation is brought about by DNA mutation, which modifies the genes of people within a population.
- Gene flow causes genetic variation when new individuals enter a group of people carrying various gene combinations.
- Genetic variation arises from the development of different gene combinations through sexual reproduction.
Question 3: What is the variation?
Answer:
Any difference between the cell, in organisms, or in a group of organisms of any one species because of the variation in the DNA is known as variation.