The Importance of Variation -

THE IMPORTANCE OF VARIATION -

On the basis of their ability to reproduce, different populations occupy particular places or niches in an ecosystem. The process of duplication of genetic material (DNA) during reproduction is important for the determination of body features of an organism. These features permit an organism to fit itself in a particular niche. Thus, reproduction is related to the stability of various populations. However, organisms have to change their niches under circumstances they cannot control. Such circumstances may be: temperature fluctuations, change in water levels, meteorite hits or some natural calamities. A population of reproducing organism suited to a particular niche will perish if the niche undergoes drastic change. In case, there are some variations in the members of population, chances are there for the survival of the variants in the changed niche. For example, a population of bacteria living in temperate waters would die, if the water temperature rises due to global warming. But if there are certain variants in the population resistant to heat, they will survive, grow and multiply further. Thus, variation is beneficial for the survival of species. Furthermore, variation is also the basis of natural selection and thus evolution. Genetic variants in a population can fit themselves to the changing environmental conditions and reproduce to form the population.