Chapter 19:

Variation and selection

 Learning outcome:
18.1 Variation

Core

1. Describe v ri tion s di erences between individu ls of the s me species

2. St te th t continuous v ri tion results in r nge of phenotypes between two extremes;

ex mples include body length nd body m ss

3. St te th t discontinuous v ri tion results in limited number of phenotypes with no

intermedi tes; ex mples include ABO blood groups, seed sh pe in pe s nd seed colour in
pe s

4. St te th t discontinuous v ri tion is usu lly c used by genes only nd continuous

v ri tion is c used by both genes nd the environment

5. Investig te nd describe ex mples of continuous v ri tion nd discontinuous v ri tion

6. Describe mut tion s genetic ch nge

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 Learning outcome:
18.1 Variation

Core (continue)

7. St te th t mut tion is the w y in which new lleles re formed

8. St te th t ionising r di tion nd some chemic ls incre se the r te of

mut tion

Supplement

9. Describe gene mut tion s r ndom ch nge in the b se sequence of

DNA

10.St te th t mut tion, meiosis, r ndom m ting nd r ndom fertilis tion re

sources of genetic v ri tion in popul tions
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19.1 Variation
 • Living org nisms di er from one nother where even members of the
s me species h ve slightly di erent sets of ch r cteristics (tr its).

• The di erences between individu ls of the s me species re c lled

v ri tions.

• Some of these di erences re inherited from their p rents, nd

others re the result of the environment.

• There re two types of v ri tions:

• continuous v ri tion

• discontinuous v ri tion
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 Discontinuous variation

Ch r cteristics th t show discontinuous v ri tion h ve few fe tures:

• An org nism either h s the ch r cteristic or to doesn’t h ve it. There

is no intermedi te of these ch r cteristics between extremes. An
org nism c n e sily be pl ced into de inite c tegories.

• These ch r cteristics re usu lly qu lit tive.

• These ch r cteristics re controlled by one or few genes nd re not

ected by the environment.

• Ex mples of these ch r cteristics: hum n ABO blood groups, bility

to roll tongue, seed sh pe in pe s, seed colour in pe s
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 Continuous variation

Ch r cteristics th t show continuous v ri tion h ve few fe tures:

• Every org nism within species shows the ch r cteristic, but to di erent extent.
So the ch r cteristic c n h ve ny v lue within r nge. It is therefore h rd to pl ce
n org nism into c tegory.

• These ch r cteristics re usu lly qu ntit tive.

• These ch r cteristics re controlled by sever l genes nd re gre tly ected by

the environment.

• Continuous v ri tion is result of the combined or dditive e ect of the m ny

genes controlling the ch r cteristics.

• Ex mples of these ch r cteristics: hum n height, hum n m ss, skin colour, shoe size
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 Sources of genetic variation
1. Mutation

• A mut tion is sudden nd r ndom ch nge in gene or chromosome.

• A ch nge in gene c n rise bec use:

• mist kes in the copying of DNA s cells get re dy to divide

• d m ge to the DNA

• These results in ch nges of the b se sequence of the DNA on chromosome.

• As result, f ulty protein m y be produced, or no protein t ll, which c n

le d to ch nge in ch r cteristic.

• Mut tion is how new lleles re formed nd is the only source of br nd new
ch r cteristics in popul tion.
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 • Mut tions occur spont neously. However, some f ctors c n incre se
the r te of mut tion.

• Import nt mut gens re:

• r di tion such s g mm r y, ultr violet r y nd X-r y c n ll

d m ge DNA

• chemic ls such s t rs in tob cco smoke, must rd g s,

form ldehyde
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 Sources of genetic variation
2. Meiosis and random fertilisation

• During meiosis, r ndom combin tions of p rent l chromosomes

occur.

• So o spring th t is genetic lly di erent is produced.

• R ndom fertilis tion of these g metes results in even more v ri tion

in the o spring.
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 Sources of genetic variation
3. Random mating

• When individu ls of the s me species, e ch with di erent

ch r cteristics m te by r ndom, gre ter genetic v ri tions will be
produced in the species.
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 Exercise:

• Complete the p r gr ph with the correct terms.

V ri tion occurs in two forms, _______________________________, which

shows cle r-cut sep r tion between groups showing this v ri tion,
nd __________________________________, in which there re m ny
intermedi te forms between the extremes of the ch r cteristics. The
irst of these is the result of the _______________ lone, whilst the second
is lso ected by _____________________________ f ctors.
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19.2 Adaptive features
 Learning outcome:
18.2 Adaptive features

Core

1. Describe n d ptive fe ture s n inherited fe ture th t helps n

org nism to survive nd reproduce in its environment

2. Interpret im ges or other inform tion bout species to describe its

d ptive fe tures

Supplement

3. Expl in the d ptive fe tures of hydrophytes nd xerophytes to

their environments
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 • Some of the v ri tions m kes n org nism well suited to its
environment, some m ke no di erence, nd others m ke the
org nisms less well suited to its environment.

• A fe ture of n org nism th t is c used by its genes, nd th t help it

to survive nd reproduce in p rticul r environment is c lled n
d ptive fe tures.

• An org nism th is well suited to m ke the most of the limited

resources within its environment is s id to show d ption to its
environment,

• Pl nts like xerophytes nd hydrophytes re ex mples of org nisms

th t re well d pted to their environments.
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 Xerophytes

• They re pl nts th t h ve inherited d ptive fe tures to survive in rid or

desert-like conditions, where w ter is in short supply.

• Ex mples of xerophytes re c cti nd succulents.

• M ny xerophytes h ve the following d ptive fe tures which helps to

reduce w ter loss in their environment:

• Needle-like le ves

• thick w xy cuticle

• sunken stom t

• h irs
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 Hydrophytes

• They re pl nts th t h ve inherited d ptive fe tures to live

submerged in w ter or lo t on the surf ce of w ter.

• Ex mples of hydrophytes re w ter hy cinth nd w ter lilies.

• M ny hydrophytes h ve the following d ptive fe tures:

• l ck of cuticle nd stom t on the le ves

• l rge ir ch mbers in the le f

• stom t in the upper epidermis

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Large air chambers in hydrophyte’s leaf
 • Other d pt tions:

• Roots of some hydrophytes re not tt ched to the bed of the

w ter body they re found in but re lo ting freely in the w ter

• Hollow sp ces in stems, illed with ir.

• Hydrophytes th t live submerged in w ter often h ve thin, fe thery

le ves which spre d out e sily in w ter.
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