Overview

7th Grade Science

Evolution

2. Mechanisms

2.2 Genetic Variation, Sources of diversity

Genetic Variation: Exploring the Sources of Biological Diversity

Discover how mutations, meiosis, and sexual reproduction generate the genetic differences that drive evolution and help populations survive changing environments.

What You'll Learn

Mutations introduce new alleles randomly into any living population.

Crossing over during meiosis creates new chromosome allele combinations.

Sexual reproduction combines two parents producing genetically unique offspring.

High genetic variation helps populations survive changing environmental conditions.

What You'll Practice

Students identify mutations, crossing over, and independent assortment processes.

Learners compare genetic diversity in sexual versus asexual reproduction types.

Questions test understanding of alleles, genotype, phenotype, and gametes.

Why This Matters

Understanding the sources of genetic variation is essential because it explains how populations adapt, survive environmental change, and drive the process of evolution itself.

This Unit Includes

1 Video lesson

Practice exercises

Learning resources

Skills

Genetic Variation

Mutations

Meiosis

Crossing Over

Natural Selection

NE Curriculum Aligned