The Importance of Variation in the survival of a species

Example of importance of variation in the survival of a species by *camouflage mechanism 1. A population that has variations will survive in a changing environment. Both the environmental and genetic factors play important roles in the survival of a species. 2. Two forms of *Biston betularia : a) the dark mechanic variant b) the grey-coloured variant 3. The importance of variations to the survival of *Biston betularia that lives in Manchester, England (i) There are two coloured forms or variants of the moth : a grey coloured variant and a dark melanic variant. A variant is an another type or form of an organism of the same species. (ii) Before industrialisation in England when the environment is unpolluted, there were more grey-coloured Biston betularia than the dark melanic Biston betularia. This is because they were well camouflage by lichencovered tree trunks. In an unpolluted environment, the dark melanic Biston betularia were not camouflaged. As a result, they could be more easily detected and eaten by predators, resulting in a decrease in their numbers. (iii) During the Industrial Revolution in England, the air quality deteriorated and soot accumulated on tree trunks, killing the lichens that lives on the trunks. As a result, the grey-coloured moths could no longer camouflage themselves and were easily caught by predators. Consequently, their population declined rapidly. In contrast, the dark melanic moths increased in number as they were camouflaged by the polluted environment. Consequently, their population increased. 4. This means that the variant of Biston betularia whose colour is in contrast with the background is less likely to survive when compared to the variant whose colour is similar to the background. 5. Without variations, some plant and animal species on Earth would become extinct.

*-meaningsCamouflage is a protective mechanism by which an animal matches it colours or shape to its surroundings, thereby making it difficult for predators or prey to see it. Biston betularia is the peppered moth species Biston Betularia

Ty es of V
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Continuous V iation Discontinuous Variation

Continuous Variation

-significantly affecte by environment -continuous variation is a result of the combine effects of genes and the environment -e ample : i) height ii) weight iii)hand span

Discontinuous Variation -it is usually qualitative that is they cannot be measured -the character is controlled by one gene or a small number of genes -they are largely unaffected by environment -it is rare in human and animal but are more common in plants are flower and seed colours -e ample : i) types of blood groups ii) thumb hypere tension iii)ability to roll the tongue

-it is usually quantitative that is it can be measure

ons

Differences

CONTINUOUS VARIATION Variation in which the differences in a character are not distinctive Exhibits a spectrum of phenotypes with intermediate characters -the characters are quantitative -can be measured Influenced by environmental factors

ASPECT Definition

DISCONTINUOUS VARIATION Variation in which of the difference in a character are distinctive

Intermediate Characters Quantitative on Qualitative Environmental factors

Exhibits a few distinctive phenotypes with no intermediate characters -the characters are qualitative -can t be measured Is not influenced by environmental factors

Two or more genes control the same character The phenol type is usually controlled by many pairs of alleles

Genes

Phenotype

Factors causing variation i) ii) iii) Genetic factors Environmental factors The interaction between genetic factors and environmental factors

Genetic Variation can be inherited whereas the environmental factors cannot be inherited

Genetic Variations -in genetic variations sexual reproduction and mutation are two sources of variation -in sexual reproduction ;

chromosomes are paired up in a bivalent, crossing over occurs between the chromatids. ii) Independent assortment during meiosis. During metaphase 1 of meiosis, homologous chromosomes arrange themselves randomly at the metaphase plate. iii) Random fertilisation. Each gamete has a unique set or combination of genes. male gamete can fertilise any of the female gametes.

i)

Crossing over during meiosis. During prophase 1 of meiosis when two homologous

single gene determines the

differences in the traits of a character The phenotype is controlled by a pair of alleles

The Effects of Genetic Variation Crossing Over During Meiosis the exchange of genetic materials between the chromatids

results in new, different genetic combination of genes from the parents. The new genetic combinations results in variation. Independent ssortment During Meiosis the random arrangement and separation of each homologous pair independent of one another. Independent assortment produces various genetic combination in the gametes. These variations arrangement in the chromosomes produce gametes with four equally possible combination of the chromosomes.

randomly. s a result the zygote is unique. With random fertilisation, variations occurs in the offspring.

Chromosomal Mutation -chromosomal mutation involves either an increase or a decrease in the number of the chromosomes or a change in the structure of the chromosomes.
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An increase or a decrease in the number of chromosomes -when homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids fail to separate during meiosis, this results in an increase or a decrease in the chromosomal number. This error usually occurs during the anaphase of meiosis I and II. The resultant gametes have an abnorma number of l chromosomes. If this occurred in human, the gametes produced would have 22 chromosomes or 24 chromosomes instead of 23 chromosomes.

Change in the structure of the chromosomes -various environment agents such as radiation or certain organic che micals can cause chromosomes to break. Usually, when breaks occur in chromosomes, the two broken ends

andom Fertilisation

The fertilisation between the males and female gametes occurs