Genetic diversity is a factor enabling natural selection to occur
Natural selection needs variation to work on. Genetic diversity — the range of different alleles in a population — supplies that variation, giving selection something to act on.
Real World
When myxomatosis was introduced to Australian rabbit populations in the 1950s, rabbits with rare alleles conferring immune resistance survived and reproduced while others died — genetic diversity in immune genes allowed natural selection to act.
Exam Focus
Explicitly link genetic diversity to variation in phenotype, then to differential survival and reproduction — don't skip steps in the chain.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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