Variation

Question 1

What are the two types of variation?

Answer 1

•Continuous
•Discontinuous

Question 2

What is continuous variation?

Answer 2

•Variation that cannot be categorised

•Produces a continuous range (e.g. height, weight).

Question 3

What is discontinuous variation?

Answer 3

Variation that can be categorised into distinct groups (e.g. eye colour, blood group).

Question 4

What are the two causes of variation within a species?

Answer 4

•Genetics
•Environment

Question 5

What is genetic variation?

Answer 5

•Variation is the genotypes of organisms of the same species due to the presence of different alleles.

•Creates differences in phenotypes.

Question 6

What is environmental variation?

Answer 6

•Variations in phenotype that are acquired during the lifespan of an organism.

•Due to environmental factors .e.g. diet, lifestyle, climate, exposure to light,etc.

Question 7

Illustrate how variation may be due to the interaction of genes and the environment

Answer 7

An individual’s genes may make the predisposed to being tall. However, a lack of nourishment during childhood may stunt growth.

Question 8

What creates genetic variation in a species?

Answer 8

•Sexual reproduction
•Spontaneous mutations

Question 9

How does sexual reproduction create variation?

Answer 9

•Meisois produces genetically different fametes (