Genetic Variation

Genetic Variation
Genetic variation helps to ensure the continued survival of species. Variation means that some members of a species are likely to survive changes in conditions, e.g. change in climate or food supply or if a new disease develops. Survivors reproduce to continue the species.

Variation
Variation between individuals is caused by differences in their genetic codes. Two types: continuous and discontinuous variation Continuous variation
controlled by several genes range of values showing a bell shaped or normal distribution when graphed E.g. height or hand-span

Variation
Discontinuous variation
controlled by one gene with two different alleles one value or another (either/or) do not show a range E.g. tongue rolling, free or fixed ear lobes

Variation
Variation exists in the traits of individuals of a population. Some of this variation is genetic due to the different alleles carried by particular individuals. E.g. white coat allele Some of this variation is acquired due to the environmental effects and/or the effects of an individuals actions. E.g. overfed domestic rabbit, stunted plant growth due to lack of nutrients.

Variation
Genetic variations can be passed to next generation
Inheritable variations

Acquired variations cannot be passed on

Non-inheritable variations

Genetic Variation and Survival

Genetic variation refers to the variety of different genotypes for a particular trait within a population. It results in a variety of phenotypes with a population. New phenotypes appear within a population as mutations introduce new alleles and sexual reproduction results in new combinations of alleles. Genetic variation increases the chances of a population surviving adverse environmental conditions.

Genetic Variation and Survival

Some phenotypes are better suited to changes in environment (e.g. extreme drought, new predators, new diseases), factors that act as selection pressures. Individuals with these better adapted phenotypes will live longer and produce more offspring with the favourable allele. Selection pressures over many generations result in favourable phenotypes surviving, reproducing, and increasing in frequency. Other, less favourable, phenotypes decrease and sometimes die out. Thus the phenotype ratio is changed.
NATURAL SELECTION

Starter 10 minutes
Try to answer these questions in about 4-5 sentences each:
What is genetic variation and how does it come about?
Meiosis Sexual reproduction Mutations

Why is genetic variation important for the survival of a species?

Some phenotypes are better adapted than others.

 What is genetic variation and how does it come about it? Genetic variation refers to the variety of different genotypes for a particular trait within a population. Genetic variation arises from sexual reproduction in which individuals inherit one copy of each gene from dad and one from mum, giving new combinations of alleles. Meiosis also helps create variation through the independent/random assortment of paternal and maternal chromosomes, as well as the exchange of sections of maternal and paternal chromosomes during crossing-over. Finally, mutations in genes can give rise to new alleles also increasing genetic variation.

 Why is genetic variation important for the survival of a species?

When a species has limited genetic variation, changes in the environment (e.g. drought, new disease, new predator..) can challenge the survival of the species. For example, all genetically identical individuals might be susceptible to the new disease. If there is genetic variation within a species some phenotypes might do better (or be better adapted) when the environment changes. E.g. in a drought, plants with longer roots will do better than those with short roots. Individuals with these more favourable phenotypes will survive and reproduce, passing on their genes to the next generation and thus changing the phenotype ratio in favour of the better adapted phenotype. Genetic variation will allow the species to ultimately survive, even if particular phenotypes die out.

Exam Question 2012

Light-coloured tree Dark-coloured tree

A species of moth has two phenotypes, light and dark. Both light and dark moths are eaten by birds. Explain how the two phenotypes of the species of moth help the population to survive if the environment changes and all the trees on which the moths live become darker. In your answer you should: define phenotype explain how colour helps individual moths to survive explain why the environmental change to darker trees, affects the ratio of the phenotypes in the moth population over time

Definition of Phenotype The physical expression of genotype / alleles, eg light and dark body / wings. Explanation colour White bodied moths are more visible on a dark background and easily preyed upon. Dark coloured moths are more visible against a light / lichen background. Explanation environment Individuals that are best suited to an environment will survive to reproduce and pass on their genes to future generations. This will lead to increase in numbers of the moth with an advantageous phenotype. If the environment changes, eg trees become darker, those individuals with dark bodies will have the beneficial characteristic and pass this onto their offspring, while the light coloured moths will stand out and be preyed upon, therefore reducing in number. As a result the phenotypic ratio will change to more dark than light over time.