Genetic variation mechanism
From BioMineWiki
Genetic variation mechanisms:
- Mutation
- Horizontal gene transfer/plasmids (most common among prokaryotes)
- (Sexual recombination (unique to eukaryotes))
- gene flow (gene migration)
- genetic drift (random drift)
Comparison of mechanisms
Mutation is the only mechanism that has the potential to cause truly new genes and which generate genetic variation within individuals. In contrast gene flow, genetic drift, horizontal gene transfer (and sexual recombination in eukaryotes) shuffles existing genes around from one genetic background to another.
| Taxonomic level | Genetic variation | Cause/Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Polymorphism | Mutation |
| Population | Gene frequency differences | Horizontal gene transfer
Gene flow (Gene migration) |
| Species or higher taxa | Divergence | Horizontal gene transfer |
