7. Why is genetic variation beneficial?
8. What is altruistic behavior? Give an example.
9. How are artificial selection and genetic modification similar?
7. Genetic variation is beneficial because it provides a diverse gene pool within a population, which increases the chances of adaptation and survival in changing environments. This diversity allows for better resistance to diseases, pests, and other environmental stressors, and helps prevent the negative consequences of inbreeding. Additionally, genetic variation can lead to the development of new traits that can give certain individuals a competitive advantage, promoting the overall health and sustainability of the population.
8. Altruistic behavior is an action that benefits others at a cost to the individual performing the action. It is often seen in the context of social animals, where individuals cooperate and help each other to increase the overall fitness of the group. An example of altruistic behavior is when a meerkat vigilantly watches for predators while the rest of the group forages for food. The vigilant meerkat is at a higher risk of being preyed upon, as it is not actively looking for food or shelter, but its behavior ultimately benefits the entire group by providing an early warning system against predators.
9. Artificial selection and genetic modification are similar in that they both involve intentional manipulation of an organism's genetic makeup to achieve specific desired traits. Artificial selection is the process by which humans selectively breed plants and animals to promote the inheritance of particular traits, whereas genetic modification involves the direct transfer or manipulation of genes within an organism's genome. While both methods aim to introduce favorable traits in organisms, artificial selection relies on the natural reproductive processes, and genetic modification uses modern biotechnology techniques to create targeted genetic changes.