Year- 7 Subject- Science Topic/Concept- Genes – Variation
Variation
Key Word Definition Variation is the differences between living organisms.
There is often lots of variation between individuals of
Variation The differences within and the same species. Some of this variation is inherited,
between species. from the organisms parents through their DNA for
example, a blood group or eye colour. Some variation is
Species A group of living things that have caused by the environment such as having a scar or a
more in common with each other piercing. Some variation is caused by a combination of
the inherited factors and the effect of the environment,
than with other groups for example, skin colour is inherited but us changed by
Inherited Variation between organisms the sun. Variation between individuals is important for
the survival of a species, helping it to avoid extinction
Variation caused by genetic factors in an always changing environment.
Environmental Variation caused by
Variation environmental factors Inherited
variation
Continuous Where differences between living Inherited from
Variation things can have any numerical parents
value e.g. height height/ blood
group
Discontinuous Where differences between living Environmental
Variation things can only be grouped into variation –
caused by
categories e.g. blood group surroundings
Adaptation Characteristic that helps an speaks Italian,
good tennis
organism to survive in its player
environment
Year- 7 Subject- Science Topic/Concept- Genes - Variation
Continuous Variation Adaptations
Human height is an example Adaptations are characteristics that enable an
of continuous variation. It organism to be successful and survive. An organisms
ranges from that of the needs to be adapted to suit its environment. An
shortest person in the world organism cannot “decide” to become better adapted.
to that of the tallest person. If an organism is not well adapted to its environment
Any height is possible it will die. An organism that is well adapted to its
between these values. So it is environment will survive and breed and pass on the
continuous variation. adaptations to its offspring
For any species a
characteristic that changes An oryx is adapted to live in hot conditions
gradually over a range of
Discontinuous Variation values shows continuous
A characteristic of any species variation. Examples of such
with only a limited number of characteristics are height and
possible values shows weight
discontinuous variation. Human If you record the heights of a
blood group is an example of group of people and draw a
discontinuous variation. In the graph of your results, it
ABO blood group system, only usually looks something like
four blood groups are possible this:
(A, B, AB or O). There are no
values in between, so this is An snow shoe
discontinuous variation. hare is adapted
Here are some examples: to live in cold
• blood group conditions
• sex (male or female)
• eye colour
