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Home/Anthropology/Mains PYQ/2019/Paper I/Human Genetics & Human Biology
UPSC MainsAnthropology Optional Paper I 2019 10 Marks Model Answer Available

Implications of Mutation in Evolution — 2019 Paper I

Question · 2019 · Paper I · 10 Marks

Implications of mutation in evolution

Model Answer

VAID ICS

Approach

  • Demand of Question: Explain mutation as a source of hereditary variation and assess its evolutionary consequences.
  • Structuring the Response: Define mutation, distinguish its effects, and relate it to selection, drift, adaptation and speciation.
  • Key Dimensions to Cover: Gene mutation, chromosomal mutation, genetic variation, natural selection, neutral mutations, deleterious mutations and evolutionary novelty.

Model Answer

Introduction: A mutation is a heritable change in genetic material. It is the ultimate source of new alleles and genetic variation, upon which natural selection, genetic drift and other evolutionary forces operate.

Evolutionary implications:

  1. Source of new variation: Mutation introduces genetic variants not previously present in a population.

Mutation → New allele → Genetic variation → Evolutionary potential

  1. Beneficial mutations: Some increase fitness under particular environmental conditions and may spread through positive natural selection.
  2. Deleterious mutations: Many reduce survival or reproduction and are eliminated or maintained at low frequencies by purifying selection.
  3. Neutral mutations: Mutations with little effect on fitness may change in frequency through genetic drift, especially in small populations.
  4. Adaptive evolution: Mutations affecting physiology, immunity, metabolism or morphology may contribute to adaptation when environmental conditions change.
  5. Genetic polymorphism: Mutation continually replenishes variation and may contribute to stable polymorphisms when combined with balancing selection.
  6. Speciation: Accumulation of genetic differences between isolated populations can ultimately contribute to reproductive isolation.

Critical point: Mutation is random with respect to adaptive need; selection determines whether particular mutations increase or decrease in frequency.

Conclusion: Mutation supplies the raw material of evolution, while selection, drift and gene flow determine the evolutionary fate of the resulting variation.

2026 Canalization and catch-up growth. 2026 Genetic polymorphism and natural selection. 2026 Numerical chromosomal aberrations can be due to abnormalities in autosomes as well as sex chromosomes. Elaborate in terms of the effects these have on human body, giving suitable examples. 2026 Distinguishing features of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.

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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2019 — Paper I

28 questions

5(a) Adaptive primate radiation

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.5 Characteristics of Primates > Evolutionary trend and primate taxonomy
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1(d) Cultural Materialism

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Cultural Materialism
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1(b) Cultural Relativism

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.1 The Nature of Culture > Ethnocentrism vis-a-vis Cultural Relativism
2019Paper ICulture & SocietyModel answer available

5(c) Olduvai Gorge

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.6 Phylogenetic status, characteristics and distribution > East African hominid sites
2019Paper IHuman Evolution & PrimatologyModel answer available

1(c) Pastoralism in India

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 3. Economic Organization > Modes of subsistence > Pastoralism
2019Paper IEconomic & Political AnthropologyModel answer available

1(e) Relative Dating Methods

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.8(a) Chronology: relative and absolute dating methods
2019Paper IPrehistoric ArchaeologyModel answer available