Diversity in Living Organisms – Introduction, Classification, Characteristics and Classification Hierarchy Diversity in living organisms refers to the variation in the characteristics of life forms on Earth. This variation includes the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems. Genetic diversity is the variation in DNA within a species. This variation can be due to differences in the sequence of DNA, the number of copies of a gene, or the location of a gene on a chromosome. Genetic diversity is necessary for a species to adapt to changes in its environment. Source URL: https://infinitylearn.com/surge/biology/diversity-in-living-organisms/