Variation Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. Which of the following is the best definition of variation?
- A. Differences between individuals of the same species
- B. Changes in allele frequency over generations
- C. The process by which organisms adapt to their environment
- D. Differences between different species in a population
2. A student measures the height of 50 students in a year group and records a continuous range of values from 145 cm to 195 cm. Which factor could NOT explain this continuous variation?
- A. Different alleles inherited from parents
- B. Different nutritional intake during childhood
- C. The ABO blood group gene inherited from parents
- D. Different exercise and physical activity levels
3. Which statement correctly describes the relationship between mutation and genetic variation in populations?
- A. Mutation is the only source of new alleles and genetic variation
- B. Mutation creates new alleles, but other processes like meiosis and random fertilisation also contribute to genetic variation
- C. Genetic variation comes from the environment only, not from mutation
- D. Mutation decreases genetic variation by removing old alleles
4. A farmer notices that bean seeds in a crop show only two distinct phenotypes: either round or wrinkled, with no seeds of intermediate shape. Which term best describes this variation, and what does this tell us about its cause?
- A. Continuous variation; caused by genes and environment
- B. Discontinuous variation; caused by genes only
- C. Discontinuous variation; caused by environment only
- D. Continuous variation; caused by multiple genes
5. A worker in a nuclear facility is exposed to ionising radiation. Explain why this exposure increases the risk of somatic mutations occurring in the worker's body cells, and evaluate what this means for genetic variation in the worker's offspring.
- A. Ionising radiation increases mutation rate and will definitely cause genetic variation in offspring through inherited mutations
- B. Ionising radiation increases mutation rate in body cells; somatic mutations in the worker are not passed to offspring, so this does not increase genetic variation in their offspring
- C. Ionising radiation only affects gametes, so all mutations caused will be inherited by offspring
- D. Ionising radiation decreases mutation rate, so the worker's offspring will have less genetic variation