Variation Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is variation?

Differences in the characteristics of individuals of the same species.

State two causes of genetic variation.

Mutation, and sexual reproduction giving different combinations of alleles.

What is environmental variation?

Differences in characteristics caused by an organism's environment (acquired characteristics).
e.g. a scar, or a plant growing poorly in shade

True or false? Eye colour is an example of environmental variation.

False. Eye colour is inherited, so it is genetic variation.

Is most variation in phenotype caused by genes, by the environment, or by both?

Both. Most phenotypic variation comes from genes and the environment acting together.
e.g. a person's body mass depends on their genes and their diet.