:

CHAPTER 14.0:
VARIATION
Chapter 14.0: Variation

14.0 Variation
14.1 Introduction
14.1.1 Continuous & discontinuous variations
14.1.2 Sources of Variation
14.2 Selection
14.3 Speciation
Chapter 14.0: Variation
Chapter 14.0: Variation
DEFINITION OF VARIATION
a change or slight difference in
characteristics/morphology/traits between
individuals of the same species or natural
population
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
The importance of variations:-
Allow a species to inhabit a wider range of
habitats.
Increase the ability of a species to survive in a
changing environment.
Can survive and reproduce to pass their genes
to their offspring.
Natural selection increase the allele frequency
of the favoured traits.

Chapter 14.0: Variation
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
The importance of variations:-
Changing the genetic composition of the
population over time
which leads to evolution.
May lead to the formation of a new species.
Population with little variation has lower chance
to survive/ adapt to changing environment.
May lead to extinction of the population/ the
whole species.

Chapter 14.0: Variation

Two types of variation:
1. Continuous
2. Discontinuous
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
Variation shown by members of a species may
due to:

1. Differences in genetic constitution
2. Differences in environmental conditions
3. Effects of interactions between genetics and
environmental influences
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
VARIATION
TYPES SOURCES
DISCONTINUOUS
(qualitative)
GENETIC
CONTINUOUS
(quantitative)
ENVIRONMENTAL
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
CONTINUOUS & DISCONTINUOUS VARIATIONS
Continuous Variation Discontinuous Variation
Individuals cannot be
grouped into distinct &
discrete phenotypes
Individuals can be grouped
into distinct & discrete
phenotypes
Characteristics vary
continuously from one
extreme to other with
intermediate phenotypes
Characteristics are distinct
with no extreme or
intermediate phenotypes
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
CONTINUOUS & DISCONTINUOUS VARIATIONS
Continuous Variation Discontinuous Variation
Quantitative character, can
be measured or graded on a
scale
Qualitative character, cannot
be measured or graded
Character is controlled by
two or more
genes/polygenes
Character is usually
controlled by a single gene
with clear effect
(Determined by different
alleles in a single locus)
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
CONTINUOUS & DISCONTINUOUS VARIATIONS
Continuous Variation Discontinuous Variation
Normal distribution curve




Discrete distribution curve
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
CONTINUOUS & DISCONTINUOUS VARIATIONS
Continuous Variation Discontinuous Variation
Phenotype expression of
characteristic influenced by
genetic & the environment
Phenotype expression of
characteristic influenced by
genetic only
Eg: height in humans,
skin colour of humans,
weight in humans
IQ
Eg: colour blindness,
free/attached earlobes ,
human blood group,
can/cannot roll tongue,
straight/curly hair,
wrinkled/smooth garden
peas, ability to taste PTC
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
TYPES OF VARIATION - CONTINUOUS
Height in humans
Handspan

Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitatuve) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
TYPES OF VARIATION - DISCONTINUOUS
Cases of sickle-cell anaemia

Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitatuve) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
TONGUE ROLLING
CANNOT ROLE
ABILITY TO ROLE TONGUE
HAIRSTYLE
STRAIGHT HAIR
CURLY HAIR
ATTACHED OR
DETACHED EAR-LOBE
Examples of Discontinuos Variation
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitatuve) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation in population
b) State types of variation: continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative) variations.
VARIATION
TYPES SOURCES
DISCONTINUOUS
(qualitative)
GENETIC
CONTINUOUS
(quantitative)
ENVIRONMENTAL
Chapter 14.0: Variation
Two main sources:
1. Genetic
2. Environmental
- Variation shown may also due to the interactions between
genetic and environmental influences
Genetic variation (changes in genetic material) may
involve:
1. Mutation
a) gene mutation
-changes in the sequence of nucleotide bases in a
single gene may produce new / different phenotype
b) chromosomal mutation
-changes in in the number/amount or structure/
arrangement of chromosomes which can happen during
mitosis and meiosis

Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation

2. genetic recombination
a) crossing over
-during prophase I of meiosis, non-sister chromatids of
homologous chromosomes exchange segments;
-this produces chromosomes with new combinations of
maternal & paternal genes
b) independent assortment of chromosomes during
metaphase I of meiosis
c) random fertilization of gametes may produce zygote
which is genetically different from others

Causes continuous and discontinuous variations,
inheritable.

Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
Gene mutation
produce
seedless
orange
Gene mutation
produce more meat
GENE MUTATION
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
CHROMOSOMAL
MUTATION
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
Occur during meiosis forming recombinant
variability.

CROSSING OVER

Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
Chapter 14.0: Variation
Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitative) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.
SOURCES OF VARIATION (environment)
Environmental variation involves environmental
factors that act to produce phenotypic differences
between individuals

Environmental variation causes continuous variation

Examples of environmental factors:
food supply (which affects growth)
Climate (eg: animals which live in cold climates
grow thicker fur)
Culture (sikhs, buddist monks)



Chapter 14.0: Variation
For example Sikhs grow their hair very long and never
cut it, but Buddhist monks shave their heads.

Learning Outcomes :
14.1 a) Explain Variation and its importance
b) Describe types of variation: Continuous (quantitatuve) and discontinuous (qualitative)
variations.