Question

What is meant by variation in a species ? State three causes of variation .

Answer 1

Variation, in biology, any difference between cells, individual organisms, or groups of organisms of any species caused either by genetic differences (genotypic variation) or by the effect of environmental factors on the expression of the genetic potentials (phenotypic variation).

Answer 2

Differences in the traits shown by offspring of parents is called variation.

Causes of variation:

1. Changes during DNA copying.

2. Chance separation of chromosomes during gamete formation.

3. Chance coming together of chromosomes during fertilization.

4. Mutations.