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Variation and Evolution in GCSE Biology: A Comprehensive Guide
This guide covers key concepts in variation and evolution for GCSE Biology, focusing on genetic and environmental factors, natural selection, and selective breeding.
31/12/2022
252
This page explores the theory of evolution by natural selection in more detail.
Key Points of Evolution by Natural Selection:
Definition: Evolution - the process by which different kinds of living organisms are believed to have developed from earlier forms, especially by natural selection.
Natural Selection in Action
Highlight: Natural selection can lead to relatively rapid changes in a species when the environment changes, as mutations that provide an advantage become more common quickly.
This page introduces the topic of variation and evolution, which is a crucial concept in GCSE Biology. It sets the stage for understanding how organisms change over time and adapt to their environments.
Highlight: The title "B14 - Variation and Evolution" suggests this is part of a larger series of biology topics, likely corresponding to the AQA GCSE Biology curriculum.
This page discusses the process of selective breeding and its implications.
Definition of Selective Breeding Selective breeding involves choosing desired characteristics and breeding animals or plants with these traits to produce offspring with enhanced desired characteristics.
Process of Selective Breeding:
Example: Selective breeding is used to develop disease resistance, increase meat or milk production, and alter colors in plants and animals.
Results of Selective Breeding Centuries of selective breeding have led to dramatic changes in domesticated plants and animals, resulting in organisms with combinations of genes that wouldn't occur naturally.
Limitations of Selective Breeding While selective breeding has been responsible for significant agricultural progress, it has drawbacks:
Vocabulary: Alleles - alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Highlight: The reduction in genetic variation caused by selective breeding can be problematic when environmental conditions change, as the lack of diversity may mean no individuals in the population can cope with the new conditions.
This page delves into the causes of variation among organisms, focusing on genetic and environmental factors.
Genetic Variation Genetic variation arises from the inheritance of genes from parents. This explains why individuals look different, with less variation between family members than in the general population.
Example: Eye color, nose shape, and sex are determined by genetic information inherited from parents.
Environmental Variation Environmental factors also contribute to differences between individuals of the same species.
Example: Scars are a form of environmental variation.
Combined Causes of Variation Many characteristics are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
Example: Height and weight are affected by both genes and environment, such as the genetic tendency to be overweight.
Investigating Variation Scientists use various methods to study variation:
Highlight: Studying identical twins separated by adoption provides insights into the relative influences of genetics and environment on human traits.
Evolution by Natural Selection This section introduces the concept of natural selection:
Mutation and Genetic Variation Mutations are changes in the DNA code that can introduce new variants into a species' gene pool.
Vocabulary: Phenotype - the observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Highlight: While many mutations have no effect or are harmful, some can produce adaptations that make an organism better suited to its environment.
23
214
10/11
Variation and Mutations
GCSE OCR Gateway Biology notes on Variation and Mutations. Enjoy:)
11
293
10/11
Plant reproduction
Plant reproduction topic in biology
8
353
11/9
Selective Breeding
Biology Paper 2
5
37
11
TOPIC 6 - Inheritance, variation and evolution notes
brief overview of entire topic
5
36
11
biology topic 1
mind maps
10
540
10/8
GENETIC ENGINEERING- bio, AQA, GCSE
A revision page on GENETIC ENGINEERING, hope this helps!! - Anna🫶🏼
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Average app rating
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Lena, iOS user
Variation and Evolution in GCSE Biology: A Comprehensive Guide
This guide covers key concepts in variation and evolution for GCSE Biology, focusing on genetic and environmental factors, natural selection, and selective breeding.
31/12/2022
252
This page explores the theory of evolution by natural selection in more detail.
Key Points of Evolution by Natural Selection:
Definition: Evolution - the process by which different kinds of living organisms are believed to have developed from earlier forms, especially by natural selection.
Natural Selection in Action
Highlight: Natural selection can lead to relatively rapid changes in a species when the environment changes, as mutations that provide an advantage become more common quickly.
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This page introduces the topic of variation and evolution, which is a crucial concept in GCSE Biology. It sets the stage for understanding how organisms change over time and adapt to their environments.
Highlight: The title "B14 - Variation and Evolution" suggests this is part of a larger series of biology topics, likely corresponding to the AQA GCSE Biology curriculum.
Register
Access to all documents
Join milions of students
Improve your grades
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
This page discusses the process of selective breeding and its implications.
Definition of Selective Breeding Selective breeding involves choosing desired characteristics and breeding animals or plants with these traits to produce offspring with enhanced desired characteristics.
Process of Selective Breeding:
Example: Selective breeding is used to develop disease resistance, increase meat or milk production, and alter colors in plants and animals.
Results of Selective Breeding Centuries of selective breeding have led to dramatic changes in domesticated plants and animals, resulting in organisms with combinations of genes that wouldn't occur naturally.
Limitations of Selective Breeding While selective breeding has been responsible for significant agricultural progress, it has drawbacks:
Vocabulary: Alleles - alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Highlight: The reduction in genetic variation caused by selective breeding can be problematic when environmental conditions change, as the lack of diversity may mean no individuals in the population can cope with the new conditions.
Register
Access to all documents
Join milions of students
Improve your grades
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
This page delves into the causes of variation among organisms, focusing on genetic and environmental factors.
Genetic Variation Genetic variation arises from the inheritance of genes from parents. This explains why individuals look different, with less variation between family members than in the general population.
Example: Eye color, nose shape, and sex are determined by genetic information inherited from parents.
Environmental Variation Environmental factors also contribute to differences between individuals of the same species.
Example: Scars are a form of environmental variation.
Combined Causes of Variation Many characteristics are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
Example: Height and weight are affected by both genes and environment, such as the genetic tendency to be overweight.
Investigating Variation Scientists use various methods to study variation:
Highlight: Studying identical twins separated by adoption provides insights into the relative influences of genetics and environment on human traits.
Evolution by Natural Selection This section introduces the concept of natural selection:
Mutation and Genetic Variation Mutations are changes in the DNA code that can introduce new variants into a species' gene pool.
Vocabulary: Phenotype - the observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Highlight: While many mutations have no effect or are harmful, some can produce adaptations that make an organism better suited to its environment.
Register
Access to all documents
Join milions of students
Improve your grades
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Register
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Join milions of students
Improve your grades
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Biology - Variation and Mutations
GCSE OCR Gateway Biology notes on Variation and Mutations. Enjoy:)
23
214
0
Biology - Plant reproduction
Plant reproduction topic in biology
11
293
0
Biology - Selective Breeding
Biology Paper 2
8
353
2
Biology - TOPIC 6 - Inheritance, variation and evolution notes
brief overview of entire topic
5
37
0
Biology - biology topic 1
mind maps
5
36
0
Biology - GENETIC ENGINEERING- bio, AQA, GCSE
A revision page on GENETIC ENGINEERING, hope this helps!! - Anna🫶🏼
10
540
0
Average app rating
Pupils love Knowunity
In education app charts in 11 countries
Students have uploaded notes
iOS User
Philip, iOS User
Lena, iOS user
