What is variation?
CAIE Biology IGCSE The difference between organisms of the
18 - Variation and Selection
same species
Flashcards
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What causes variation? What is discontinuous variation?
Mutations in the genetic code Variation that produces distinct
categories (e.g. eye colour or blood
groups)
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What is continuous variation? What is a mutation?
Variation that cannot be placed into A random change in the genetic material
distinct categories and instead produces of an organism
a spectrum (e.g. height, weight)
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What is a mutation? (Higher/Supplement) State 2 things which may increase the rate of
mutation
A random change in the base sequence - Ionising radiation
of the DNA of an organism - Certain chemicals (like those found in
cigarette smoke)
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State 4 sources of genetic variation in a population What is an adaptive feature?
(Higher/Supplement)
- Mutation Any inherited feature which helps an
- Meiosis organism to survive in its environment
- Random mating and pass on its genes
- Random fertilisation
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What are hydrophytes? (Higher/Supplement) State 3 adaptations of hydrophytes
(Higher/Supplement)
Plants which are adapted to live in - Wide and flat leaves
aquatic conditions - Stomata positioned on top of the
leaves
- Thin/no waxy cuticle
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What are xerophytes? (Higher/Supplement) State 3 adaptations of xerophytes
(Higher/Supplement)
Plants which are adapted to live in very - Rolled leaves
arid and dry conditions - Thick waxy cuticle
- Small needle shaped leaves
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Describe the process of natural selection What is the process of adaptation?
(Higher/Supplement)
- Populations are naturally varied due to random
genetic mutations Populations become more suited to their
- Some of these mutations provide a selective
environment over time due to natural
advantage
- These organisms survive and reproduce, passing on selection
the successful genes
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What is the development of antibiotic resistance an Describe how antibiotic resistance arises
example of? (Higher/Supplement) (Higher/Supplement)
Evolution by natural selection - A random genetic mutation causes a bacterium to
become resistant to the antibiotic
- When the antibiotic is used, all the bacteria that do
not have the mutation are killed
- The population containing just the resistant bacteria
then begins to grow
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Describe how selective breeding is carried out What is the difference between natural selection and
artificial selection? (Higher/Supplement)
- Organisms with the desired traits are
Natural selection occurs when the selection pressures
selected
are created by the environment whereas artificial
- These organisms are bred together selection is when humans deliberately create selection
- This process is repeated until the offspring pressures
have the desired characteristics
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