Question

Sol.(c) [Key Concept: Genetic Variation — Sources] Genetic variation in a population arises due to both MUTATIONS AND RECOMBINATION. Mutations (point mutations, insertions, deletions, chromosomal aberrations) create new alleles; recombination (crossing over during meiosis, independent assortment) reshuffles existing alleles into new combinations. Both processes are essential sources of genetic diversity. Reproductive isolation and selection are evolutionary forces that CHANGE allele frequencies but don't CREATE new variation directly.