Varations

Question 1

What causes variation?

Answer 1

This is caused by sexual reproduction. The combination of genetic material from the parents leads to new combinations and therefore new characteristics are made from the offspring.

Question 2

What are the key steps in natural selection?

Answer 2

Variation. Organisms exhibit individual variation and behaviour.
Inheritance. Some traits are passed on from parent to offspring.
High rate of population growth.
Differential survival and reproduction.

Question 3

What is variation?

Answer 3

Difference between asexual and sexual reproduction reflected in the different types of cell division.
In asexual reproduction the offspring are produced by mitosis and contain the same chromosomes and same genes as parents.
In sexual reproduction the gametes are produced by meiosis in the sex organs of parents. This introduces variation as each gamete is different.

Question 4

What is competition?

Answer 4

Competition is an interaction between organisms or species in which both the organisms or species are harmed. Limited supply of at least one resource such as food, water and territory used by both can be a factor.

Question 5

What is reproduction?

Answer 5

The production of offspring by sexual or asexual process

Question 6

What do we mean by the survival of the fittest?

Answer 6

The continued existence of organisms which are best adapted to their environment with the extinction of others.