Write each of these in the correct

place on the venn diagram

Blood type
Tattoo
Height
Hair colour
Eye colour
Mass
Scars
Skin colour

Variation

Environmental

Genetic

www.theurbn.com/2011/09/synthetic-biology-engineering-life-or-engineering-for-better-life/sytheticbiology/

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Topic 18 Variation and Selection

Variation
LO To distinguish between different types of variation >
Which of these are caused by genetics (inherited) and which
are caused by the environment? Answer on your worksheet

Variation

Genetic
Blood type

Scars

Skin colour
Height
Mass

Tattoo

Environmental

Hair colour
Eye colour

REMEMBER that phenotypic variation is

caused by both genetic and environmental
factors

Variation is differences between individuals in the same

species

There are 2 types of variation

Continuous
Discontinuous

Discontinuous variation

Types of Variation - Discontinuous

Also known as Discrete variables
Variables are assigned to clearly
defined categories or distinct groups
Examples include : sex, blood groups,
colour
Data usually presented as a bar graph

Discontinuous variation
Results in a limited number of phenotypes with no
intermediates, e.g. tongue rolling
Mostly caused by genes alone, e.g. A, B, AB and O blood
groups in humans
Categories of things

Limited number of distinct phenotypes

Plotted as a bar graph

Continuous variation

Types of Variation - Continuous

The full range of variables between 2
extreme values
Examples in nature include : height,
weight, length, size
Data is normally presented in a Normal
Distribution (a bell-shaped curve)

Continuous Variation
Continuous variation results in a range
of phenotypes between two extremes,
e.g. height in humans
Either caused by environmental factors,
Or Lots of different genes all working
together, Or A combination of both
Gradual or not so clear-cut variation

How many cows

are there in that
field?

Discontinuous Continuous

How fast can your

car go?

Discontinuous Continuous

How much water

is there in this
bottle?

Discontinuous Continuous

How many CDs

do you own?

Discontinuous Continuous

What is
your shoe
size?

Discontinuous Continuous

How much does a

whale weigh?

Discontinuous Continuous

How much does a

Mars Bar cost?

Discontinuous Continuous

What is the
temperature of this
fire?

Discontinuous Continuous

How long does the

bus to Busan
take?

Discontinuous Continuous

How many goals

have you scored
this year?

Discontinuous Continuous

Your graph is an appropriate size (bigger

than half the total size you are give)
Your axis are an appropriate scale
(e.g. 1,2,5,10) not a scale that makes
it difficult to read.
Your axis are labelled with what they
represent.
Your axis labels include the units of
what you are investigating.
Your graph has a title which describes
what the graph is showing.
You have plotted the information on
your graph correctly.

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