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Genetic diversity refers to the total number of different alleles in a population. Variation — differences between individuals of the same species — arises from both genetic and environmental factors. Understanding the sources and significance of genetic diversity, how it is measured, and how populations change over time is crucial for A-Level Biology.
Key Definition: Genetic diversity is the number of different alleles of genes in a population. A population with many different alleles has high genetic diversity.
Key Definition: A mutation is a random, spontaneous change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA. Mutations are the ultimate source of new alleles and therefore of genetic variation.
Gene mutations (point mutations) affect individual genes.
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