Variation, Genetics + Inheritance (paper 2) Flashcards
Differences in the characteristics of individuals in a population is called
variation and may be due to differences in:
- the genes they have inherited (genetic causes)
- the conditions in which they have developed (environmental causes)
- a combination of genes and the environment.
usually what is the range of variation within a species
there is usually extensive genetic variation within a population of a species
what do all variants arise from
mutations
do mutation have an effect on its phenotype
most have No effect and some *influence** phenotypes , very few determine phenotype
what is the phenotype
the physical characteristic of an organism which occurs as a result of its genes
What are mutations, and how often do they occur?
Mutations occur continuously
How and how often can a mutation lead to the evolution of a species in response to environmental changes?
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Very rarely a mutation will lead to a new
phenotype - If the new phenotype is suited to an environmental change it
can lead to a relatively rapid change in the species
species definition