Describe sources of variation in organisms and their structures and relate the variations to survival.
Organisms reproduce to survive. With out reproduction organisms would die out. Through mutation and sexual reproduction a wide variety of new traits can be seen in offspring. Certain characteristics, which were caused by mutated genes, actually helped an organism to survive. For example, when I think of a bunny rabbit I think of a little cute brown rabbit. This little brown rabbit would not survive in a climate where snow is on the ground for 6 months. The rabbit would not be able to hide very well. The rabbit would stick out against the white background and be consumed by a predator. By a mutation the offspring could be white and survive only to reproduce more white rabbits. When then only white rabbit would be left. The same is thought of for mosquitoes. People believe that when you use certain types of repellants, only the mosquitoes with some sort of mutant gene resistant to the repellant would survive. We would then have only mosquitoes surviving that are resistant to repellants. Not all mutations are for the good. Some mutations could hinder the survival of that species. These small changes from parents to offspring can grow greater each year. These traits will only help the organism to survive. Today scientists are looking at genetic engineering. You would be able to have a child free of any type of genetic illness or malformaty.
Changes in the environment could wipe out certain organisms with a particular trait. The best example of this is the extinction of the dinosaurs. As we entered the ice age the dinosaurs could no longer survive.
