Variation & Mutation

Question 1

What is variation?

Answer 1

Differences between individuals of the same species

Question 2

What is variation caused by?

Answer 2

-A difference in genes after random fertilisation of gametes
-Environmental factors
-A combination of both

Question 3

What does environmental factors mean in variation?

Answer 3

Enviornmental means “outside of the body” so it can be factors like climate, diet, culture, lifestyle etc

Question 4

What are examples of environmental factors?

Answer 4

-An accident leading to scarring of the body
-Overeating will lead to weight gain

Question 5

What are examples of a combination of both differences in genes and environmental factors?

Answer 5

-Tall parents pass genes to their children for height
-Their children will have high genetic potential to be tall
-But if their diet and sleep is poor they might not grow to be as tall

Question 6

What is mutation?

Answer 6

Rare and random genetic changes that occur in the sequence of DNA bases in a gene or chromosome

Question 7

How does a mutation work?

Answer 7

DNA bases determine the sequences of amino acids that make up a protein, mutations in a gene can lead to a change in protein that the gene codes for.