Continuous and Discontinuous variation

Introduction : Watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=a5yzRRvROpE

Some of the features of the different organisms in a species show continuous variation, and some
show discontinuous variation.

Variation is all the differences which exist between members of the same species. It is caused by a
combination of genetic and environmental factors. There are two kinds of
variation: continuous and discontinuous.

Continuous variation 
- shows a complete range of the characteristic within a population.
- caused both by both gens (often several different genes) and environment:

 Plants: availability of/competition for: nutrients, light, water.

                  exposure to disease…

 Animals: availability of food/balanced diet

                     exposure to disease (or the availability of health serviced for   humans).

Discontinuous variation 
- seen where there are obvious, distinct categories for a feature.
- no intermediates between categories, the feature cannot usually change during life.
- caused by a single gen/a small number of genes, with no environmental influence. 
 Continuous variation

For any species, a characteristic that changes gradually over a range of values shows continuous
variation. Examples of such characteristics are:

 height

 weight

 hand span

Height ranges from that of the shortest person in the world to that of the tallest person. Any height is
possible between these two extremes. So, it is continuous variation.

This shape of graph is typical of a feature with continuous variation. The more people you measure, and
the smaller the categories you use, the closer the results will be to the curved line. This type of curved
graph is the result of a variable being normally distributed. It is called ‘bell shaped’ and shows normal
distribution.
 Continuous variation in height

Discontinuous variation

A characteristic of any species with only a limited number of possible values shows discontinuous
variation. For example:

 sex

 eye colour

There are four blood groups (A, B, AB or O). There are no values in between (intermediate values), so
this shows discontinuous variation.
Discontinuous variation in blood group
 Similarities Between Continuous and Discontinuous Variation  

 Continuous and discontinuous variation are two types of genetic variation seen among
individuals of populations. 

 Both occur due to the differences in DNA in different genomes caused by mutations and genetic
recombination. 

 Moreover, both cause phenotypic variation in different aspects including physical

appearance, metabolism, fertility, mode of reproduction, behavior, learning and mental ability,
and other obvious or measurable characters.  

Variation and mutation

Variation in species can be genetic, environmental or a combination of both. Mutation is a change in a

gene or chromosome and can also be inherited.

Mutation

Mutation is a change in a gene or chromosome. It is a rare, random change in the genetic material, and
it can be inherited.

Causes of mutation.

Mutation can be spontaneous (it just happens). It can also happen because of:

 ionising radiation

 chemical mutagens - such as tar from cigarette smoke

Ionising radiation includes gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet rays. The greater the dose of radiation a
cell gets, the greater the chance of a mutation.
 This hazard symbol is shown on containers of radioactive substances.

Effects of mutation

A mutation may be neutral and have no effect. For example, the protein that a mutated gene produces
may work just as well as the protein from the non-mutated gene.

A mutation may sometimes be beneficial. For example, people who are carriers (heterozygous) for the
sickle cell allele are more resistant to malaria (a tropical disease) than people who are homozygous for
the gene.

Down’s syndrome

Down’s syndrome is caused by the presence of three copies of chromosome 21 (or an extra bit of a
chromosome 21), rather than just the usual two copies. It happens when a gamete (sperm cell or egg
cell) forms abnormally during meiosis and has an extra copy of chromosome 21.
Chromosomes from a male with Down’s syndrome – note the extra bit of a chromosome 21.