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| Heredity and Variation |
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| All living organisms reproduce. Reproduction results in the formation of offspring of the same kind. A pea plant produces only pea plants each time it reproduces. A rat produces only rats. Humans produce only humans. However, the resulting offspring need not and most often do not totally resemble the parent. Several characteristic differences may occur between individuals belonging to the same species. The similarities and differences among the members of a species are not coincidental. Both the similarities and differences have been received from their parents. The mechanism of transmission of characters, resemblances as well as differences, from the parental generation to the offspring, is called as heredity. The differences shown by individuals within the same species and in the offspring, are described as variations. The scientific study of heredity, variations and the environmental factors responsible for these, is known as genetics. |
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