Genetic diversity

Genetic diversity is the variety of DNA differences among individuals, populations, or species, including variation in genes, alleles, and genomes.

Allele: An allele is one of two or more alternative versions of a genetic sequence at a particular genomic location. Different alleles at the same genomic location are a basic form of genetic variation.
Natural selection: Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of organisms associated with heritable traits. Selection can favor some variants while reducing others, changing genetic diversity.
Conservation genetics: Conservation genetics applies genetic data to the management and protection of biodiversity. It uses diversity estimates to guide decisions about threatened populations.
Adaptive potential: Adaptive potential is a population’s capacity to respond evolutionarily to environmental change through heritable variation. Genetic diversity provides variants on which future selection can act.
Molecular evolution: Molecular evolution studies changes in DNA, RNA, and protein sequences across generations and lineages. It examines how mutation, selection, and drift shape patterns of genetic variation.
Mutation: A mutation is a change in an organism’s DNA sequence. Mutations introduce new genetic variants that can increase diversity.
Gene flow: Gene flow is the transfer of genetic variants between populations through migration and reproduction. It can introduce variants into a population and reduce differences between populations.
Inbreeding depression: Inbreeding depression is reduced survival or reproduction associated with mating between relatives. Low diversity and inbreeding can raise the expression of harmful genetic variants.
Evolution: Evolution is change in heritable characteristics of populations across generations. Changes in genetic diversity and variant frequencies are central to evolutionary change.
Neutral theory of molecular evolution: The neutral theory holds that much molecular variation evolves through random fixation of selectively neutral mutations. It challenges explanations that attribute most genetic differences to adaptation.

Linked from 51 pages