BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

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What causes variations between individuals in a population?

Genetic mutations

Genetic uniqueness of gametes

The genetic uniqueness of gametes plays a significant role in causing variations between individuals in a population. Each individual contributes a unique combination of alleles through their gametes during sexual reproduction. This uniqueness arises from processes such as meiosis, where genetic recombination and independent assortment occur.

These processes ensure that the gametes produced by each parent are genetically distinct, resulting in offspring that inherit a different mix of genes from their parents. This genetic diversity is crucial for the variation seen in a population and can lead to differences in traits such as physical characteristics, disease susceptibility, and behavior among individuals.

While other factors, such as genetic mutations and environmental changes, also contribute to variations within populations, the distinct combinations of alleles generated through gamete formation are fundamental for introducing new genetic diversity, especially in sexually reproducing populations. Random mating can influence the distribution of these variants but does not directly create the genetic differences that arise through gamete uniqueness.

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Environmental changes

Random mating

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