CHAPTER 6

VARIATION
Variation: The differences between
individuals of the same species
PIGEONS
GUPPIES
 Learning Outcomes
 state the important of variation in organism
 give example of variation in humans
 state the types of variation
 compare continuous variation with
discontinuous variation

Learning Objective
6.1 Understanding variation in
organisms
For the survival of the species in the
change of environment
~if all the members of species are identical,
an environmental disaster which kills one
of them would most likely kill all of them.

The important of Variation

 Types of Variations
• continuous variation
– with a continuous range of intermediate
values
– eg. height, weight, hand span, chest
circumference, skin color and intelligent
 Types of Variations
• discontinuous variation
– The character is clear-cut and not
showing intermediates
– eg. Tongue rolling, ear
Discontinuous Variation
 Thumb
Extension
This trait is reportedly due to
a single gene; strait thumb is
dominant and hitchhiker's
thumb is recessive.
 Tongue rolling ability may be
due to a single gene with the
ability to roll the tongue a
dominant trait and the lack of
tongue rolling ability a
recessive

Tongue
Rolling
Dimples
Dimples are reportedly due
to a single gene with dimples
dominant (people may exibit
a dimple on only one side of
the face) and a lack of
dimples is recessive.
Compare Continuous Variation
with discontinuous variation

No Characteristic Continuous Discontinuous

variation variation
1 Intermediate

2 Type of graph

3 Quantitative/Q
ualitative
4 Example
Compare Continuous Variation
with discontinuous variation

No Characteristic Continuous Discontinuous

variation variation
1 Intermediate intermediate no intermediate

2 Type of graph normal discrete

distribution distribution curve
curve

3 Quantitative/Q quantitative Qualitative

ualitative
4 Example
 Learning Outcomes
 state the factors causing variation
 explain the effects of genetic factors on variation
 explain the effects of environmental factors on
variation
 explain the effects of the interaction between
genetic factors and environmental factors on
variation
 explain what is mutation
 explain the importance of variation in the survival
of a species

Learning Objective
6.2 Understanding the causes
of variation
The factors causing variation
 2 factors:
1. Genetics
2. Environmental

Genetic Factors
1. Meiosis
(i) Crossing over
(ii) Independent assortment
(iii) Random Fertilisation
2. Mutation
 Causes of Variations
1. GENETIC FACTORS

1. CROSSING OVER

Non-sister chromatids undergo crossing over during prophase

I which involve exchange segment of DNA to produce
gametes with a variety combination/ cause variation
2. INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT
-Homologous pair of chromosomes
arrange randomly on metaphase plate
during metaphase I

-produce gametes with different

combination of homologous chromosomes

-variation of gametes
Independent Assortment
3. RANDOM FERTILISATION
Gametes from different parents with
diverse/different combination of homologous
chromosome are fused together

-to form zygote

-with variety of gene combination

Random Fertilization
RANDOM FERTILISATION
 Causes of Variations
 MUTATIONS
-A permanent change in the sequence of DNA or in the
amount of DNA

-sometimes occur naturally eg. Mistakes that occcur

during DNA replication or uneven distribution of
chromosomes during cell division

-rate may greatly increased if the organism is exposed

to mutagens
-1) high- energy radiation(radiation-X-rays/gamma
rays/UV,
-2) chemicals mutagens-benzene, formaldehyde, tar,
asbestos, chloroform or neutron bombardment)

-most mutation are harmful but not all

Action of mutagens- X-rays
- Mutation that occur in somatic cell will not be
inherited but only affect the person during his lifetime
but mutation that occur in the cells that produce
gametes can be inherited

-2 types of mutation :
1. Gene mutation
2. Chromosome mutation
GENE MUTATION

 D: A type of mutation involve an alteration in base

sequence of DNA , cause changing the genetic code
and Order of amino acids for synthesis of proteins
 Involves either deletion, insertion or substitution of
nucleotide base

 E : Albinisme/ haemophilia/ SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA

 S : cause genetic disease

GENE MUTATION
EXAMPLES OF INHERITED DISEASES CAUSE BY GENE
MUTATION :

1. Sickle-cell Anaemia (red blood cells become sickle

/ S-shaped)
2. Albinism (lack of enzyme producing skin pigment,
melanin)
3. Polydactylism
4. Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome (premature
ageing)
Polydactylism
CHROMOSOME MUTATION
 Involve either:
1. an increase or decrease in the number of
chromosomes
2. a change in the structure of the
chromosome

 Increase or decrease in the number of

chromosomes can be caused by the failure of
homologous chromosomes to segregate
during Meiosis I and Meiosis II which produce
gametes with either extra chromosome or lack
of chromosome (NONDISJUNTION)
An Increase Or Decrease In The
Number Of Chromosomes

 Examples
of genetic disorder resulting from
chromosomal mutation :

1. Down’s syndrome (individual with extra

chromosome 21)

2. Turner’s syndrome (female individual with only

45 chromosomes, 44 autosome+X chromosome)

3. Klinefelter’s syndrome (male individual 47

chromosomes, 44 autosomes+XXY chromosomes
 2. A Change In The Structure Of
The Chromosome
 (a) Deletion
O : fragment of chromosome

C : break of

E : lost

R : structure of chromosomes change


2. A Change In The Structure Of
The Chromosome

(b) Duplication

 O : A fragment of chromosomes

 C : double/repeated

E R : produce new chromosome with

extra genetic material

2. A Change In The Structure Of
The Chromosome

 (c) Inversion

 O : A fragment of chromosomes

 C : removes and rotates through 180o

and inserted back at the same location

 E R : produce new chromosomes change

in sequence of genes

2. A Change In The Structure Of
The Chromosome

 (d) Translocation

 O: A fragment of a chromosome

 C : breaks off and then attaches to

another chromosomes

 ER : produce two chromosomes with

different sequence of genes compare to the
initial ones
 2. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
– cause variation in characters with
continuous variation
15.2.3 : Explain the effects of environment factors
on variation

phenotype of plant effect by environment

factors
Change and acquired characteristic which
cannot be inherited

15.2.4 : Explain the effects of interaction between

genetic and environmental factors on variation

several pairs of alleles influences by

environmental and interaction between one
another and cause variation
The end.. By Siti Marziah