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What Is the Main Cause of Evolution?


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Evolution:

The process by which modern organisms have descended from their ancestors, with changes in their allele frequencies, is called evolution.

The mechanism of evolution occurs due to the changes in the gene pool- the collection of genes. There are four key mechanisms that cause a population. These include:

  1. Mutation
  2. Gene Flow
  3. Genetic Drift
  4. Natural Selection

1.Mutation:

Mutations are defined as the changes in the DNA sequence of a living organism. The mutations occurring in the germ cells, i.e., the egg or sperm cells only are passed on to future generations. These mutations are inherited from the parents and are present in every cell throughout a person’s life. These are the mutations that lead to evolution.

2.Gene Flow:

The transfer of genes from one population to another is called gene flow.

3.Genetic Drift:

It refers to the change in the allele frequency of a population as a matter of chance. It is a random event whose effect is larger in smaller populations and smaller in larger populations.

4. Natural Selection:

Some individuals with certain traits have higher survival and reproductive rate than others. They pass on these genetic features to their offspring which brings an evolutionary change in the future generations. This selection of the genetic qualities that prove beneficial for survival in future generations is known as natural selection.


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