Inheritance
Variation
1. Definition of Variation
● Variation: Differences between individuals of the same species. These
differences can be in physical appearance, behavior, physiology, or other
traits.
2. Continuous Variation
● Description: Continuous variation results in a range of phenotypes that can
take any value between two extremes.
● Examples:
○ Body Length: Individuals can have varying heights, and there are
no distinct categories; instead, heights range along a spectrum.
○ Body Mass: Similar to body length, body mass can vary significantly
among individuals, and it forms a continuous range rather than
distinct groups.
Continuous Variation : Heights of 90000 army recruits. The apparent steps in the
distribution are the result of randomly chosen categories, differing in height by 1
cm. But heights do not differ by exactly 1 cm. If measurements could be made
accurately to the nearest millimetre there would be a smooth curve like the one
shown in colour
3. Discontinuous Variation
● Description: Discontinuous variation results in a limited number of
phenotypes with no intermediates. Each individual falls into one of several
distinct categories.
Discontinuous Variation : Tongue rollers and non-rollers in a class
● Examples:
○ ABO Blood Groups: There are four distinct blood groups (A, B, AB,
and O) with no intermediates.
Example:
Frequencies of ABO blood groups in India. The figures could not be adjusted to
fit a smooth curve because there are no intermediates. Note: The figures do not
add up to 100% because there are other less common blood groups as well
○ Seed Shape in Peas: Pea seeds can be either round or wrinkled,
with no intermediate shapes.
○ Seed Colour in Peas: Pea seeds can be either yellow or green, with
no intermediate colors.
4. Causes of Variation
● Discontinuous Variation: Usually caused by genes only. Each phenotype is
typically controlled by a single gene or a small number of genes.
○ Example: ABO blood groups are determined by a single gene with
multiple alleles.
● Continuous Variation: Caused by the combined effects of genes and the
environment. Multiple genes (polygenic inheritance) contribute to the trait,
and environmental factors can influence the expression of these genes.
○ Example: Height is influenced by many genes and factors such as
nutrition and health during growth periods.
5. Investigating and Describing Examples of Variation
● Continuous Variation:
○ Example 1: Human Height
■ Investigation: Measure the height of a large group of
individuals. Plot the data on a graph to show the range of
heights and the distribution (often a bell curve).
■ Description: Human height varies continuously with most
people falling around an average height, and fewer people at
the extremes (very short or very tall).
○ Example 2: Human Body Mass
■ Investigation: Record the body mass of a large sample of
individuals. Plot the data to visualize the distribution.
■ Description: Body mass shows a continuous range of values
with a gradual increase or decrease between the lightest and
heaviest individuals.
● Discontinuous Variation:
○ Example 1: ABO Blood Groups
■ Investigation: Determine the blood group of a sample of
individuals. Categorize the results into groups A, B, AB, and
O.
■ Description: Blood groups show clear-cut categories with no
intermediate forms.
○ Example 2: Seed Shape in Peas
■ Investigation: Grow pea plants and observe the shape of the
seeds produced. Classify the seeds as either round or
wrinkled.
■ Description: Seed shape is discontinuous as each seed is
distinctly either round or wrinkled, with no intermediate
shapes.
There are many characteristics that are difficult to classify as either completely
continuous or discontinuous variations. Human eye colour has already been
mentioned. People can be classified roughly as having blue eyes or brown eyes,
but there are also categories described as grey, hazel or green. It is likely that
there are a small number of genes for eye colour and a dominant gene for brown
eyes, which overrides all the others when it is present. Similarly, red hair is a
discontinuous variation. However, it is hidden by genes for other colours and
there is a continuous range of hair colour from blond to black.
