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<p>I am currently studying AP Bio and have noticed that college board tells students that we shouldn't write (FRQ) that flowering plants that try to avoid self-fertilization do so in order to create more genetic variation within the individual; we should say that cross-fertilization increases the genetic diversity of the POPULATION, not the individual....</p>

<p>But my question is, aren't the attributes of meiosis (crossing over and independent assortment of chrosomes during both metaphase 1 and 2) and random fertilization of eggs by sperms all factors that contribute to the genetic-uniqueness of the individual plant? After all, the individuals have to be genetically unique and special in order for the whole population to be more genetically diverse.... ??</p>

<p>Thanx in advance if you'd like to tell me why cross-fertilization does not increase the genetic diversity at the individual level...! :)</p>

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<p>Genetic diversity refers to the diversity of genotypes within the population, not the individual.</p>

<p>You’re right in that crossing over, random chromosome assortment, and random fertilization increase the genetic uniqueness of each individual, but diversity is a characteristic of populations and groups, not individual organisms.</p>

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<p>okay thanx :)</p>

<p>so genetic variation is relevant to the population, though we may refer to an individual as genetically unique because he/she is one component of this genetic diversity within the population …</p>