Variation

Question 1

What are the differences in a species called?

Answer 1

Variation

It can be either genetic variation or environmental variation

Question 2

Why do all plants and animals have characteristics similar to their parents?

Answer 2

An organisms characteristics are determined by the genes inherited from their parents

These genes are passed on in the gametes which the offspring develop from

Question 3

What causes genetic variation?

Answer 3

Some animals get some genes from the mother and some from the father and this combining of genes causes variation and means very few members of a species are genetically identical

Question 4

What sort of characteristics are determined only by genes?

Answer 4

Violet flower colour
Eye colour
Blood group
Inherited disorders (cystic fibrosis)

Question 5

What is environmental variation and examples of it?

Answer 5

Why différence caused by the conditions something lives in

Yellow leaves
Getting a suntan

Question 6

What characteristics are influenced by genes and the environment?

Answer 6

Body weight
Height
Skin colour
Academic or athletic progress

Eg maximum height something can grow to is determined by genes but whether it grows that tall will depend on environment (how much food it gets)