Year 11 Genetic Variation

Amoeba sister video showing the relationship between genes and alleles. Complete section Genes and Alleles in your workbook - pg 33 -37. Please read 33-34 BEFORE attempting questions.

Monohybrid crosses and the Punnet square.

Genetic variation

Evolution is how small changes in a species have occurred as a result of genetic variation over a long period of time. Variation is the difference between individuals. There are 2 main types of variation - variation between species AND variation within a species. It is variation WITHIN a species that leads to evolutionary change.

Natural Selection

Natural selection is the process where individuals within a species with the best best characteristics for the environment they live in, have a advantage not only to survive but to reproduce as well, thereby passing on their genetic material to the next generation. Natural selection is the mechanism by which evolution works and first proposed by Charles Darwin. Artificial selection is when the selections are made by man - animals and plants are artificially selected for their specific traits - Dairy cows and increased milk solid production is NZ example of Artificial selection - NZ dairy cows having been breed for increased milk solid production and volume over the past 50 years to increase the output. Read and complete pages 7-12.