Reason of diversity in living beings is

Options

A. Mutation
B. Long term evolutionary change
C. Gradual change
D. Short term evolutionary chagne.

Answer

### Step-by-Step Text Solution

1. **Understanding Diversity in Living Beings**: The diversity among living organisms refers to the variety of species and their differences in traits and characteristics. This diversity is crucial for the survival of ecosystems and contributes to the richness of life on Earth.

2. **Role of Evolution**: Evolution is the process through which species change over time. It explains how different species arise from common ancestors and adapt to their environments. This process is driven by various mechanisms that lead to the accumulation of new traits.

3. **Mechanisms of Evolution**:
- **Mutation**: This is a change at the genetic level that introduces new traits into a population. Mutations can occur spontaneously and can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral.
- **Genetic Drift**: This refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population, which can lead to significant changes over time, especially in small populations.
- **Gene Flow**: This is the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new genetic variation.
- **Natural Selection**: This is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This leads to the gradual accumulation of advantageous traits.

4. **Short-term vs. Long-term Evolutionary Changes**:
- Short-term evolutionary changes can occur quickly and may be observable within a few generations. These changes may be a result of mutations or environmental pressures.
- Long-term evolutionary changes involve the gradual transformation of species over extended periods, leading to the emergence of new species and greater diversity.

5. **Conclusion**: The primary reason for the diversity in living beings is long-term evolutionary change. This encompasses the accumulation of traits over generations, leading to the formation of new species and the vast array of life forms we see today.