Variation

What might be the reasons that individuals of

the same species may look different to each
other?
 Variation
Lesson Objectives:
Grade C
Recall what a species is.
Grade B
Describe variation as continuous or
discontinuous.

Keywords: Variation, continuous, discontinuous.

 Variation – different species
There are lots of differences between these organisms.

For example:
 some have leaves;
 some lay eggs;
 some eat plants.

These organisms are different because they are all from

different species.
 Variation – same species
There are also differences between organisms of the
same species.
 What is variation?
Even though people are all from the same species, there are
many ways in which they are different from each other.

Some of them are male, some are female, some are tall, some
are short.

The differences that occur both between different species and

within the same species are called variation.
 What causes variation?
Variation is caused by two factors:
1. Inherited

These are features that are passed on from parents.

For example, natural hair colour is an inherited feature.

2. Environmental

These are features that are affected by the surroundings.

For example, someone can be born with brown hair which
then gets lighter in the Sun or might be dyed a different
colour.
 What type of variation?
The results of variation can be one of two
groups:
• Continuous variation – when there is a range
of values e.g. height, weight etc.

• Discontinuous variation – when there is not a

range of values e.g. hair colour, eye colour etc.
 Example - Continuous Variation
• One example of continuous variation would be
height. If you were to measure the heights of
every student in the class you would get many
different values.
Examples - Discontinuous Variation
• One example of continuous variation would be
blood type. If you were to measure the blood
type of every student in the class you would
get a few specific values (which are usually
words).
 Variation
Lesson Objectives:
Grade C
Recall what a species is.
Grade B
Describe variation as continuous or
discontinuous.

Keywords: Variation, continuous, discontinuous.

 Tasks
Teacher to insert activities before lesson.

Extension
Teacher to insert activities before lesson.
 Variation
Lesson Objectives:
Grade C
Recall what a species is.
Grade B
Describe variation as continuous or
discontinuous.

Keywords: Variation, continuous, discontinuous.

Variation