Genetic diversity is the differences in DNA among individuals within a species or population. It can be caused by mutation, random mating, random fertilization, and recombination between homologous chromosomes during meiosis. Examples of genetic diversity include: A single species might show high diversity at the genetic level over its distributional range. The genetic variation shown by the medicinal plant Rauwolfia vomitoria growing in different Himalayan ranges might be in terms of the potency and concentration of the active chemical (reserpine) that the plant produces. India has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice and 1,000 varieties of mango.