Question

Compare and contrast Continuous Variation & Discontinuous Variation. Define each concept and provide a specific example of each.

Answer 1

Continuous variation is a change in population that occurs continuously while dis-continuous variation is a change in population that occur for an instantaneous time period.

Step-by-step explanation:

Continuous variation – in this a series of changes occur in a population without any break. For example – production of eggs by hens (in their set of population) is an activity which faces continuous variation comprising of both genetic and environmental variation. If the genetic combination are excellent, the egg production and quality will be high. Like wise when environmental conditions are appropriate the egg yield in high both qualitatively and quantitatively. Both these variations keep on going from generation after generation

Discontinuous Variation – Some changes in a given population occurs only for a certain period of time and then they vanish. For example – Variation in human blood is a discontinuous variation as there are only four blood groups.

Answer 2

The continuous variation lacks distinct phenotype and the discontinuous variation has distinct phenotype.

Step-by-step explanation:

The variation can be defined as presence of difference between two members of same species. The cause of variation can be genetic or environmental.

There are mainly two types of variation, continuous and discontinuous.

The continuous variation is defined as the presence of gradual differences, which cannot be characterized in distinct units. For example, the polymorphic traits such as height, weight and skin color in humans.

The discontinuous variation can be defined as the differences, which can be characterized into different units. For example, the variation of ABO blood group, a person can either have A, B, AB or O type blood group, there is no continuity.