Variation

Question 1

What is Variation?

Answer 1

Variety or differences between individuals.

Question 2

What is Genetic Variation?

Answer 2

It is caused by differences between genes and combinations of genes/alleles

Question 3

What is Continuous Variation?

Answer 3

Full range of intermediate phenotypes between two extremes.

Question 4

What is Discontinuous Variation?

Answer 4

Discrete groups of phenotypes with very few individuals between.

Question 5

What would be an example of Discontinuous Variation?

Answer 5

Discontinuous variation is where there is two or more distinct categories – no intermediates.

Question 6

What would be an example of Continuous Variation?

Answer 6

Continuous variation is where there’s a full range of intermediates, focused around a mean. E.g. height in humans, length of leaves on an oak tree, length of mushroom hyphae.

Question 7

What do Genes provide?

Answer 7

Genes provide information for characteristics. Alleles are versions of genes.

Question 8

What accounts for individual characteristics?

Answer 8

25, 000 genes, with many more than one allele. This accounts for individual differences.

Question 9

What can changes in Environment affect?

Answer 9

Changes in environment affect active genes. Environment influences characteristics.