Chapter 2: Variation within a species
No two wild snow leopards have exactly the same rosette pattern. Variation is the raw material on which environments act.
Part of your national curriculum
- Biology: genetics and evolution: Understand differences between species and the variation between individuals of the same species
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand differences between species and the variation between individuals of the same species
Key learning points
- • Continuous variation
- • Discontinuous variation
- • Between and within species
- • Sampling fairly
This lesson at a glance
- 28 minutes
- 19 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 19
Visual introductionPicture this
Chapter 2: Variation within a species
No two wild snow leopards have exactly the same rosette pattern. Variation is the raw material on which environments act.
In a nutshell
Understand differences between species and the variation between individuals of the same species
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 19
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Continuous variation
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 19
Learn
Continuous variation
Characteristics such as height, mass and paw length can take any value across a range. They are often controlled by many genes and affected by the environment, so a histogram shows a spread of measurements.
Reset break
Part 4 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 19
Learn
Discontinuous variation
Characteristics such as human ABO blood group fall into separate categories with no values between them. They are usually controlled by one or a small number of genes.
Quick check
Part 6 of 19
Quick check
Part 7 of 19
Reset break
Part 8 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 19
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Between and within species
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 19
Learn
Between and within species
Members of different species have defining differences and normally cannot produce fertile offspring together. Members of one species still vary because of inherited alleles, environmental effects and their interaction.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 19
Learn
Sampling fairly
To compare variation, define the population, choose a representative sample, use the same measuring method and record units. A larger random sample usually gives a more reliable picture.
Reset break
Part 12 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 19
Challenge round
Part 14 of 19
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 15 of 19
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Members of different species have defining ____ and normally cannot produce fertile offspring together.
Members of one ____ still vary because of inherited alleles, environmental effects and their interaction.
To compare ____, define the population, choose a representative sample, use the same measuring method and record units.
Reset break
Part 16 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 19
Game · Recall cards
Natural selection acts on…
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 18 of 19
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Chapter 2: Variation within a species
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Natural selection acts on…
2. Migrating to avoid winter is which type of adaptation?
3. A population changes over generations because…
4. Which is continuous variation?
Lesson round-up
Part 19 of 19
Lesson round-up
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Understand differences between species and the variation between individuals of the same species