10.5 Types Of Variation

Question 1

What is interspecific variation?

Answer 1

Variation between members of different species

Question 2

What is intraspecific variation?

Answer 2

Differences between organisms within a species

Question 3

Causes of genetic variation

Answer 3

Alleles 
Mutations 
Meiosis 
Sexual reproduction 
Chance

Question 4

How do alleles cause genetic variation?

Answer 4

Genes have different alleles
With a gene for a particular characteristic, different alleles produce different effects
Individuals in a species population can inherit different alleles of a gene

Question 5

How do mutations cause genetic variation?

Answer 5

Changes to DNA sequence can cause changes to proteins produced
Protein changes can affect physical and metabolic characteristics
If a mutation occurs in a gamete, it can be passed onto offspring
If in somatic cells, the individual is affected

Question 6

How does meiosis cause genetic variation?

Answer 6

Gametes are produced by meiosis in sexually reproducing organisms
Each gamete receives half the genetic content of a parent cell
Genetic material inherited from both parents is mixed up by independent assortment and crossing over

Question 7

How does sexual reproduction cause genetic variation?

Answer 7

Offspring produced from two individuals inherits genes from each of the parents
Each individual produced will therefore be different to the parent

Question 8

How does chance cause genetic variation?

Answer 8

Many different gametes are produced from the parental genome
During sexual reproduction, it is a result of chance which 2 combine (random fertilisation)
Individuals produced differ from their siblings as each contain unique combination of genetic material

Question 9

Why are plants affected more by environmental variation than animals?

Answer 9

Due to their lack of mobility

Question 10

What colour flowers do Hydrangeas produce in acidic soils?

Answer 10

Blue flowers

Question 11

What colour flowers do Hydrangeas produce in alkaline soils?

Answer 11

Pink flowers

Question 12

How is height affected by both genetic and environmental variation?

Answer 12

If parents are tall, you might inherit tall genes to also grow to a tall height
But a poor diet or disease can limit height

Question 13

How is skin colour affected by both genetic and environmental variation?

Answer 13

Skin colour depends on amount of melanin
More melanin - darker skin tone
When exposed to UV light, skin produces more melanin to protect skin