Question

why is polymorphism important

Answer 1

Poly means different and morphs means forms.

Polymorphism means different forms of DNA. Different forms of DNA are obtained by different arrangement of four nucleotides in the genome of different organism and even in the number of these nucleotides is also different in different organisms.

Polymorphism is important in DNA because it gives rise to variations seen among different individuals. It is the ultimate source of differences which are present among progenies of same parent and even between progeny and parent.

Polymorphism may be due to differences in single to many nucleotides of DNA. Polymorphism caused due to single nucleotide is called as SNP or single nucleotide polymorphism. This is a very important type of molecular marker to determine relationships between individuals. This is because even a change in single nucleotide of closely related organisms, gives rise to variations between the organisms.

By variation, I mean phenotypic variations. Phenotype is the external appearance of organisms.

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