VARIATION & ITS TYPES

Variation Defintion
 Variations mean the differences
(morphological, physiological, cytological and
behavioristic mode of reproduction ,fertility
amongst the individuals of the same species
and the offspring of the same parents).
 People have different heights, hair colour and

eye colour. We also vary in blood groups,

intelligence and whether we can roll our
tongues or not.
Existence of Variation
There are two ways in which variation may
exist:
 Genotypic Variation
 Phenotypic Variation
Genotypic Variation
 Any difference between cells, individual
organisms, or groups of organisms of
any species caused either by genetic
differences are known as genotypic variations
 Differences in number or structure
of chromosomes or by differences in
the genes carried by the chromosomes.
 Eye colour, body form, and disease
resistance are genotypic variations. 
Phenotypic Variation
 The effect of environmental factors on the
expression of the genetic potentials are
known as phenotypic variation.
 variations include stages in an organism’s life

cycle and seasonal variations in an individual.

 These variations do not involve any hereditary

alteration and in general are not transmitted

to future generations; consequently, they are
not significant in the process of evolution.
Types of Variations
Variations are classified variously according to:
1. Affected Trait:
Morphological, physiological, cytological and
behavioristic.
2. Impact:
Useful, harmful and neutral or indifferent
3.Cells Affected:
Somatic and germinal.
SOMATIC VARIATION
The variations affect the somatic or body cells
of the organisms. They are also called
modifications or acquired-characters because
they are acquired by an individual during its life
time. 
Factors of Somatic Variation
 They are caused by three factors:
1Environment
2.use and disuse of organs
3.and conscious efforts.
Environmental Factor
 The environmental factors are medium, light,
temperature, nutrition, wind, water supply, etc.
 The environmental factors bring about only
slight modifications in animals but in plants
the modifications are much more conspicuous.
 This is due to the environmental effect on the
meristems of various parts.
 A slight change in the meristematic activity can
have permanent effect on the plant.
Important Environmental Factors :
Some of the more important environmental
factors are:
1. Light:
◦ In the absence of light the plants remain
etiolated. Shade produces elongated internodes
and thinner and broader leaves.
◦ It increases the succulence of many vegetables.
Strong light, on the contrary, helps in the
production of more mechanical tissue and smaller
and thicker leaves.
Important Environmental Factors
cont..
Some of the more important environmental
factors are:
2. Temperature:
◦ Temperature directly affects the metabolic activity
of the organisms and rate of transpiration in
plants.
◦ Plants growing in hot area show stunted growth
of the aerial parts and greater growth of the root
system.
Important Environmental Factors
cont..
Some of the more important environmental
factors are:
3.Nutrition:
The abundance or deficiency of a mineral salt
produces various types of deformities in plants
4. Water:
Plants growing in soils deficient in water or
in areas with little rainfall show modifications in
order to reduce transpiration and retain water
eg, sunken stomata.
Use And Disuse Of Organ
 This is mostly observed in higher animals.
 The organ which is put to continuous use

develops more while the organ less used

develops little.
 eg, A wrestler or a player who performs daily

exercise develops a stronger and more

muscular body than another man who does
not do any exercise.
 A lion, tiger or bear kept in a zoo is weaker

than the one living in jungle

Germinal or Blastogenic Variations:
 They are produced in the germ cells of an
organism and are inheritable.
 They may be already present in ancestors or

may be formed suddenly.

Germinal or Blastogenic Variations
cont..
The germinal variations are of two types:
1.Continuous variation
2.Discontinuous variation.
Continuous Variations

 In continuous variation there is a complete range

of measurements from one extreme to the other.
Height is an example of continuous variation -
individuals can have a complete range of heights,
for example, 1.6, 1.61, 1.62, 1.625 etc

 It is the combined effect of many genes (known

as polygenic inheritance) and is often
significantly affected by environmental
influences.
Quantitative Characteristics of
Continuous Variations
Continuous variations are typical of quantitative
characteristics. They are produced by:
(i) Chance separation or segregation of
chromosomes at the time of gamete or spore
formation.
(ii) Crossing over or exchange of segments
between homologous chromosomes during
meiosis.
(iii) Chance combination of chromosomes
during fertilization.
Types of Continuous Variations
Continuous variations are of two types:
(a) Substantive:
 They influence appearance including shape, size,

weight and colour of a part or whole of the

organism, e.g., height, shape of nose, skin
colour, colour of eyes, hair, length of fingers or
toes.
(b) Meristic:
 They influence the number of parts, e.g., number

of grains in an ear of wheat, tentacles in Hydra

or segments in earthworm, etc.
Discontinuous Variation
 When individuals characteristics within a population fit into two or
more distinct categories.

 It is controlled by alleles of a single gene or a small number of

genes. The environment has little effect on this type of variation. .

Discontinuous variations are caused by:

(a) Chromosomal aberrations like deletion, duplication, inversion and

translocation,
(b) Change in chromosome number through aneuploidy and
polyploidy,
(c) Change in gene structure and expression due to addition, deletion
or change in nucleotides.
Importance of Variations
They help the individuals to adapt themselves
according to the changing environment:
1. Discontinuous variations produce new traits
in the organisms.
2. Variations allow breeders to improve races
of useful plants and animals for increased
resistance, better yield, quicker growth and
lesser input