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Populations & Variation. Populations. A population is a group of the same species living within a particular geographical area at a given time. Variation. Monomorphic Variation. Polymorphic Variation.
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Populations A population is a group of the same species living within a particular geographical area at a given time.
Variation Monomorphic Variation Polymorphic Variation Members of a population may show two or more variations for a particular trait. Flower colour in lupins • Members of a population may show no variation for a particular trait. • Galahs are monomorphic in respect to plumage • As are sulphur crested cockatoos
Variation Continuous Discontinuous
Variation • Variation exists in members of a population. • Variation may be: • Structural • Biochemical • Physiological • Developmental • Behavioural • Geographic
Structural Variation • Variation exhibited in members of a population in terms of one or more structural traits. • EG. Polydactyly in humans, tails (or lack of in cats, toe number in chickens.
Biochemical Variation • Variation exhibited amongst members of a population of a biochemical trait. • EG. coloursof some animals are due to biochemical differences – budgerigars.
Physiological Variation • Variation in a population of physiological traits in a population • EG. Ability to taste and smell certain compounds in foods or odours, ability to distinguish between colours
Developmental Variation • Variations due to changes that normally occur during the life span of the species. • EG. Colour changes in pythons, magpies, silver gulls from juveniles to adults, ripening of fruit from green to red/dark (strawberries)
Behavioural Variation • Difference in behaviour expressed in various traits. • EG. In dogs, retrieving, herding. In horses – natural trotters, or natural pacers.
Geographic Variation • Members of a population may differ from those in another part. • EG. Tawny frogmouth birds are smaller and paler in northern parts of their range and larger and darker in southern parts.
Causes of Variation • Genetic: • Polygenes and monogenes • Sexual reproduction:Recombination of alleles • Mutations – new alleles • Interactions with the environment • Environmental factors like soil pH, light, altitude,soilnutrients etc influence the phenotype
Mutations • A mutation refers to any permanent change in the DNA nucleotide base sequence of an organism
Can you inherit a mutation? • Yes! if a mutation occurs in the germline cells the change will be passed on to the offspring. • If a mutation occurs somatic cells it will not be inherited, but it may affect the individual during their lifetime.