Science Common Sense
1612 - What is genetic variation
Genetic variation is when different people or living things have small changes in their DNA, which is like a special set of instructions inside their cells.
Think of DNA as a blueprint or a recipe book that tells your body what color eyes to have, what color hair to grow, and even how tall you'll be. But sometimes, there are tiny mistakes or differences in the recipe book that can make you different from your family members or friends.
These tiny changes can happen in different ways, like:
- Mutations: When there's a mistake in the DNA copying process.
- Inheritance: When you get a combination of genes from your parents that are a little different.
- Evolution: When small changes in the DNA happen over many generations.
Genetic variation is what makes us all unique and different from one another. It's also what helps living things adapt to their environment and survive.