Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DEFINITION
Differences between individuals of the same species Used to describe differences in characteristics shown by organisms in the same species Due to genetic or enviromental factors
IMPORTANCE
Helps species to survive changes in the environment Species inhabit a wider range of habitats
TYPES OF VARIATION
CONTINOUS VARIATION
CONTINOUS VARIATION
Characteristics with traits that show a gradual change from one extreme to the other Example:height,skin colour, body weight,intelligence Determined by the combine effect of multiple genes located at different loci (polygenic)
DISCONTINOUS VARIATION
Have clear-cut differences between them No-intermediate forms Controlled by one or two genes(alleles) Phenotypes are generally unaffected by environmental factors Example:blood groups,shape of the earlobe,ability to role tongue,eye colour,fingerprints, hair curly
% of population
AB
Bar chart showing frequency distribution for the ABO blood groups
Causes of variation
GENETIC FACTORS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
CROSSING OVER
Homologous chromosome pair up and form bivalents May occur between maternal and paternal chromosomes of the bivalents resulting in new genetic combinations
INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT
During metaphase 1,bivalents randomly orientated on spindle equator, maternal and paternal chromosomes randomly distributed to either pole The daughter cells have different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes Possible of 223 combinations
Random fusion of male and female gamet during fertilisation Offspring will have a genetic composition different from its parents Creates new combinations of existing feature
MUTATION: sudden change in the amount of DNA or structure of DNA of an organism Occur randomly and spontaneous Occur at low rate Increase by the exposure of mutagens: caffeine,formaldehyde,colchicne,pesti cides,radiations,UV light
MUTATION
If happens in somatic cells it is not transmitted to next generation If happens in gametes its likely to be inherited Most mutations harmful Some mutations beneficial; better adapt to new environment Increases variation in population: creating new alleles
CHROMOSOMAL MUTATIONS
Changes in the number of chromosomes or in the structure of chromosomes Cause: one or more pairs of homologous chromosomes fail to separate during Anaphase 1 (non-disjunction) Gain or loss of chromosomes in the daughter cells
If whole set failed to separate : polyploidy/ euploidy (common in plants) Aneuploidy : loss or gain one of the chromosomes Eg: Down syndromes
A fragment of chromosome is doubled or repeated. New chromosome Has extra genetic material
A fragment of chromosome is removed. The fragment rotates through 180 C and is inserted back at the same location
GENE MUTATIONS
Point mutation
A change in the nucleotide sequence of part of a gene Changes in genetic code and order of amino acid Mistake is transcribed as mRNA. Altered mRNA carries altered information to where synthesis take place. Protein non-functional/does not efficient
Mutagen
Mutations-causing agents Example: radiation(X-rays,uv light,gamma rays), caffeine,formaldehyde,food preservatives, pesticides, drugs,component in tobacco
The shell color and banding patterns determined by genes The distribution of the different uniforms is determined by environment If the background is fairly uniform, the unbanded snails are numerous If the background vegetation is mottled, banded snails predominate