DNA sequences present in mini-satellites and micro-satellites show high degree of polymorphism due to

Options

A. Natural selection
B. Sexual recombinations
C. Mutations
D. All the three

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Polymorphism**:
- Polymorphism refers to the presence of multiple forms or alleles of a gene in a population. It is a genetic variation that can lead to different traits among individuals.

2. **Identifying Mini-satellites and Micro-satellites**:
- Mini-satellites and micro-satellites are types of satellite DNA. They consist of repetitive sequences of DNA that do not code for proteins.

3. **Recognizing the Source of Polymorphism**:
- The high degree of polymorphism in mini-satellites and micro-satellites arises from genetic variations, primarily due to mutations. These mutations can lead to changes in the number of repeats in these sequences.

4. **Linking to DNA Fingerprinting**:
- The variations in mini-satellites and micro-satellites are significant for techniques like DNA fingerprinting, where differences in these sequences can be used to identify individuals.

5. **Evaluating Options**:
- The question provides several options to explain the polymorphism in mini-satellites and micro-satellites.
- Option A: Natural selection - Incorrect, as it does not directly cause the variations in these sequences.
- Option B: Sexual recombination - Incorrect, as this does not lead to the specific variations seen in mini-satellites and micro-satellites.
- Option C: Mutation - Correct, as mutations are responsible for the high degree of polymorphism in these DNA sequences.

6. **Conclusion**:
- The correct answer is option C: Mutation, as it is the primary reason for the high degree of polymorphism observed in mini-satellites and micro-satellites.

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