Variation and Adaptation

Monday, 24 March 2014

 You must be able to:

Define variation Discuss the fact that variation occurs between species and within the same species Describe the differences between continuous and discontinuous variation using examples of a range of characteristics found in plants, animal and microorganisms Explain both the genetic and environmental causes of variation Outline the behavioural, physiological, and anatomical adaptations of organisms to their environment

 Define variation
The differences between individuals

Variation occurs between individuals within a species and between different species
Example of intraspecies varitaion is easy Humans have different eye colours, different hair colour, different heights, different weights and so on Between species is obvious as it helps us to classify them as separate species in the first place!

Two forms of variation

Continuous and Discontinuous variation Continuous variation essentially means there are two extremes and an infinite range between the two e.g.
height in humans Length of hypha

Discontinuous variation is when there are two or more distinct categories with no other options inbetween e.g.
Colours of flowers Eye colour in humans

 Quickly list 6 examples (not already mentioned) of continuous variation List 6 examples (not already mentioned) of discontinuous variation

Two main causes of variation

Environmental and Genetic
Environmental e.g. hawthorn tree

 Genetic variation comes from parents

The combination of the alleles we inherit will not be the same in any other living thing (except in identical twins) Humans have 25000 genes lets assume each has just 2 alleles then there is a one in 50 000 000 chance that two people will have the same genetic combination

Adaptation
How is this adapted to Survive? Categorise them into:
Behavioural Adaptations Physiological Adaptations Anatomical Adaptations

Give other examples of behavioural and anatomical adaptations

Then read the journal article titled Biochemical Adaptation up to Water and Ions and then list other examples of biochemical/physiological adaptations