mutation is the cause, genetic variation is the consequence
Mutation refers to a change in DNA base pairs and also to the processes that can cause these changes (e.g. errors in DNA replication).
Genetic variation is a description of how many different types of DNA are in population of organisms (or within a specific gene in those organisms). Mutations can increase genetic variation. However, genetic variation can change due to other processes. These include population substructure, inbreeding, crossing over during meiosis, etc. Remember that natural populations of organisms often have very high levels of genetic variation, especially compared to inbred lab model organisms. If you are comparing individual organisms to a sequenced reference genome, keep in mind that the reference is simply one genome and does not describe all the variation in the species.
Dear Suzanne
Genetic variation describes naturally occurring genetic differences among individuals of the same species. This variation permits flexibility and survival of a population in the face of changing environmental circumstances. Without genetic variation, some of the basic mechanisms of evolutionary change cannot operate.
A mutation is a change that occurs in our DNA sequence, either due to mistakes when the DNA is copied or as the result of environmental factors such as UV light. Mutations include changes as small as the substitution of a single DNA building block, or nucleotide base, with another nucleotide base. Meanwhile, larger mutations can affect many genes on a chromosome. Along with substitutions, mutations can also be caused by insertions, deletions, or duplications of DNA sequences.
The source of all genetic variation lies in the mutational process, which occurs at different rates in different parts of the genome and in the male and female germ lines.
Mutation(common in coding region of a gene) should result in phenotypic changes. A variation(generally occurs in non-coding region of a gene) could influence expression far away from its location, could be even expression of another gene. But will not have any phenotypic effect.
Biju Joseph
A mutation is a change that occurs in the genome of an individual organism. Mutations can be spontaneous (they just happen). Genetic variation, variation in alleles of genes, occurs both within and among populations.
Although humans enjoy biologically universal characteristics , they are seldom identical. Such existing differences are labeled as genetic variation which results in different forms, or alleles of genes. consequently, differences in hair color, eye color, shape of faces are due to genetic variations inherited from parents. By contrast, mutation results from the changing of genetic structure creating a typical variant which may be transmitted to subsequent generations. The the alteration of single base units in DNA may occur in various forms such as deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger sections of genes. Ultimately, mutation is responsible for the emergence of new variations amongst human populations.
Mutation is one type of generic variation. Mutations are changes in the DNA. A single mutation can have a large effect, but in many cases, evolutionary change is based on the accumulation of many mutations.
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