Interspecific variation is
between different species
for example different
masses of different types
of birds
Variation can be
both continuous
and discontinuous ,
continuous is when
the variation is
within a range and
discontinuous is
when there are two
or more distinct
catagories
Discontinuous could be
sex/blood group in
animals , colour / seed
shape in plants or
antibiotic
resistance/pigment
production in
microorganisms
Continuous could be milk
yield/mass in animals,
number of leaves/mass in
plants and width/length in
microorganisms
Can be caused by genetic/ environmental factors
Different species have different
genes, same species have same
genes but different alleles .
These make up the genotype
which results in a varying
phenotype. (characteristics).
Genetic variation is inherited
Environmental factors such
as climate also have an effect
like location affects accent
and lifestyle/culture with
peircings
Genetic variation is inherited
but environmental factors can
influence them like height is
inherited but also affected by
health
Adapatations
making an organism well suited to
its environment , adaptations make
chances of survival increase and
reproduction more likely to be
successful
Behavioural
adaptations are things
such as possums
playing dead to avoid
being killed. Scorpions
dance to attract the
right mate for
reproduction
Physiological adaptations are
processes that increase the chance of
survival such as hibernating to
conserve energy and bacteria
producing antibodies to kill other
species and reduce competition
Anatomical adaptations are physical things like
streamlined otters to improve speed in swimming
and whales having thick blubber layers to insulate
them in their cold environments
The theories of evolution
Darwin's theory of natural selection
Observations and theory
More offspring are produced than
survive , characteristics between
species show variation and these
can passed on as the best adapted
are more likely to survive
Phenotypes variation allows some individuals
in species to be better adapted from
predators, disease and competition. They are
more likely to survive and pass on their better
genes to the next generation and over time
adaptations become more common in species
Evolution leads to speciation , the
formation of a new species. It
happens when one species evolves so
much that it becomes unable to
produce fertile offspring with the rest
of its species
Darwin's finches - 14 species from the
Galapagos islands , all found to have a
common ancestor , became isolated on
the islands and adapted to the food
sources there , changing their beak type
and resulting in them being unable to
mate with each other to produce fertile
offspring
Evidence to support evolution
Fossil record
evidence can be
chronologically
ordered into
showing gradual
changes through
species like in the
size of horses
hoof's
DNA evidence shows evolution is
caused by gradual changes in
base sequences of organisms
DNA. The closer the related a
species are, the more similar the
DNA. Also applies for species that
have evolved recently like
humans and chimps
Molecular evidence such as
comparisons between amino
acid sequences in proteins
and antibodies
Resistance to antibiotics
MRSA is resistant to antibiotic methicillin
because of genetic mutations through
natural selection. (Only the mutated
resistant ones will survive to reproduce
more and pass on the alleles
Infections become harder to treat and it
takes a long time to produce and invent new
antibiotics that bacteria isn't resistant to
Resistance to pesticides
Mosquito's have developed
resistance to DDT through
natural selection working in
the same way as the genetic
mutations in bacteria in
antibiotic resistance.
Crop infestations become
harder to overcome ,
crops get destroyed and
disease is spread much
quicker. In some cases
populations become
resistant to pesticides
which again will take a lot
of money and time to
solve