1.2.12

Causes of Variation

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Causes of Variation

Variation is what makes you different from your friends and family. We can see variation in all different organisms.

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Genetic variation

  • Genetic variation is when random mutations are passed down from parent to child.
    • The mutations that cause genetic variation occur in the DNA.
    • Genetic variation is inherited.
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Examples of genetic variation

  • Examples of genetic variation include:
    • Eye colour
    • Blood group
    • Skin colour
    • If you can roll your tongue
    • Natural hair colour
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Environmental variation

  • Environmental variation is variation that occurs due to the environment an organism is in.
  • Examples of environmental variation include:
    • Accent and language
    • Scars
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Both causes of variation

  • Sometimes an organism's characteristics can be determined by both their environment and genetics.
    • For example, height and weight are determined by both environment and genetics.
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Desired characteristics

  • Variation of any type can help an organism survive.
    • Variations that help organisms survive are called desired characteristics.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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