Unit 3 Variation and Inheritance

3.1 Key
• A key is a set of questions about the organism want to identify.
To use the key:
• Choose one organism that you want to identify.
• Starting at the top of the key, answer the first question – yes or no?
• Follow the line to the next question, and keep going until you have the name
of the organism.
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3.2 Variation
***Variation is the difference between the individuals within species are called
variation.
***A species is a group of organisms that share the same features, and that can
breed together to produce fertile offspring.
• Variation is caused by genes and by environment.
• Two features of humans that are caused by their genes and are not affected by
their environment - sex, blood group, shape of ear lobe, eye colour.
• Two features of humans that are affected by both genes and environment -
height, weight, how fast you can run.
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3.3 Inheritance
***Inheritance is the passing of genes (features) from parents to their offspring.
• All organisms have genes. Plants, bacteria and fungi all have genes.
• Genes are passed on (transferred) to offspring from parents.
• Half of genes came from father, and half from mother.
• The genes are not the only reason but environment also has a big effect.
• Genes provide a set of instructions that determine some of the characteristics
of an organism.
• Some characteristics are caused by an organism’s environment.
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3.4 More about inheritance
*** Gene is part of a chromosome that determines one particular characteristics
of an organism.
• Genes are found on chromosomes, in the nucleus of a cell.

• Genes and chromosomes are made of a chemical called DNA.

• Each gene is a set of instructions for the cell.

• Most genes come in several different forms.

• Offspring inherit half of their genes from each of their parents.

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3.5 Selective breeding

• When people breed animals and plants, they can choose which ones they will
allow to breed.

• Animals and plants with desired features are allowed to breed, but those that
do not have the desired features are not allowed to breed.

• This is done for many generations. This is selective breeding.

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 3.6 Natural selection
• Natural selection involves the elimination of less well-adapted varieties by
environmental pressures.

Selective breeding Natural selection

To begin with, there is a population of organisms To begin with, there is a population of organisms
that show variation. The variation is partly that show variation. The variation is partly caused
caused by their genes by their genes

People choose individuals that have Individuals that have characteristics that provide
characteristics that they want. the best adaptations to their habitat are more
likely to survive.

Only the individuals with the characteristics that Only individuals with the best adaptations survive
people want are allowed to breed. long enough to breed.

These individuals pass on their genes, and These individuals pass on their genes, and
therefore their characteristics, to their offspring. therefore their characteristics, to their offspring.

• Individuals that have variations that best adapt them to their environment are
most likely to survive and reproduce.
• These individuals pass on their genes to their offspring. The offspring may
inherit the genes for these adaptations.
• This process is named natural selection.
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3.7 Natural selection in action

• When antibiotics are used, any bacteria that have a gene that makes them
resistant to the antibiotic survive and reproduce.
• Natural selection causes populations of resistant bacteria to be produced.
• Natural selection caused dark varieties of the peppered moth to become more
common in England during the nineteenth century.
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3.8 Charles Darwin
• The organisms in a species are not all exactly the same as each other. They
show variation.
• Many organisms will not survive until adulthood. They may be killed by
predators, die of disease, or not be able to get enough to eat.
• The individuals that have variations that make them best adapted to their
habitat are the ones that have the best chance of surviving.
• The best-adapted organisms are therefore the ones that are most likely to
breed and have offspring.
• The offspring will inherit some of the features of their parents.
• If this continues, generation after generation, then there could be a change in
the species over time. Eventually, it could change so much that it would be a
different species.
• Darwin called his theory natural selection. This is the term that we still use
today.
• The theory of natural selection states that the individuals that are best
adapted to their environment are the ones that are most likely to pass on their
features to the next generation.