The concept of natural selection is a mechanism of evolution where environmental pressures select for phenotypes that exist in populations based on genetic variation. Which process below would not contribute to the genetic variation in a population of mice?

mitotic growth

The concept of natural selection is a mechanism of evolution where environmental pressures select for phenotypes that exist in populations based on genetic variation. Which process below would not contribute to the genetic variation in a population of mice?

A) mitotic growth

B) sexual reproduction

C) mutations resulting from errors in DNA synthesis

D) crossing over of homologous chromosomes during meiosis

Answer:

The correct answer is - option A.

Explanation:

Mitotic growth does not affect the genetic variation as it takes place in somatic cell rather than sex cells that affects the genetic variation as it exhibit meiotic cells.

Sexual reproduction involves the crossing over during meiosis that will cause genetic variation in an individual. Crossing over is exchange of the part of the homologous chromosome during meiosis.

Thus, the correct answer is - option A.