Continuing Education Notes Ms.
Armstrong
Variation
Variation refers to differences which occur in the characteristics of organisms which belong to the same species or population.
Variation is important to the species because differences in adaptations can increase the chances of survival under different or
changing environmental conditions. Survival of a species is important much more so than the survival of a single individual. There are
two main types of variation:
1. Continuous Variation
2. Discontinuous Variation
Continuous Variation
In this type of variation there is a complete range of measurements from one extreme to the other. The characteristics in the population
show a complete graduation from one extreme to the other. All graduations between two extremes may be found, e.g. height in human.
In continuous variation:
(a) Individuals do not fit into clearly defined groups.
(b) Measurement is usually involved.
(c) There is a range of values from the greatest to the least.
(d) This type of variation occurs when the feature being observed is controlled by many genes, e.g. human height, or when the
feature is influenced by the environment or lifestyle, e.g. human mass.
(e) Data may be displayed in the form of a histogram.
Examples of continuous variation include the length of the pupa in insects, hand span, foot size, leaf size, pod size and milk yield in
cows.
Discontinuous Variation
Discontinuous variation is variation within a population of a characteristic that falls into two or more discrete classes. The
characteristics exhibit a limited form of variation. This variation produces individuals showing clear cut differences with no
intermediates between them, e.g. tongue rolling.
In discontinuous variation:
(a) Individuals fit into clearly defined groups.
(b) Measurement of the observation may be involved.
(c) The environment has little effect. Genes are mainly responsible.
(d) Such variation does not give normal distribution curves but the data may be displayed as a bar chart or in a pie chart.
Examples include the height of pea plants (i.e. tall or short), human blood groups (A, B, AB, O), eye colour, hair colour, presence or
absence of horns and resistance to disease.
Causes of Variation
Variation can be caused by the environment, genetics or both.
Environmental variation: This type of variation involves the environment having an effect on individuals in a population or species.
E.g. Imagine two plants of the same species grown in the same soil but one is in the shade of a large tree. The plant that is in the shade
will not grow as large as the one that is not shaded due to the difference in environment.
Genetic variation: Our features and characteristics are obtained from our parents through their genes (i.e. inherited) but siblings can be
very different. This is due to the fact that each individual receives a unique combination of genes.
Factors Leading to Genetic Variation
1. Independent Assortment: The random separation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis which gives different
combinations of chromosomes in the gametes.
2. Random Fertilization: This is the random fusion of male and female gametes to produce different combinations of
chromosomes.
3. Crossing over: The is the process during which the homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material in the first stage of
meiosis. This leads to new combinations of alleles on chromosomes.
4. Mutation: This is a change in the amount, arrangement or structure of the DNA of an organism. If that change is inheritable
the results show new traits in a population.
The Importance of Genetic Variation 1
Genetic variation is important because it helps to maintain the diversity among species. It allows for natural selection to occur and
also allows for new alleles to enter the population. By having different genetic combinations, individuals of a population exhibit
different traits which may or may not be to their benefit.
