continuous variation
What continuous variation means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of continuous variation
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Reference: OCR
A smooth numerical gradient across a continuous range, such as human height or body mass, which is polygenic and substantially modified by environmental factors.
Results from polygenic characteristics interacting strongly with environmental factors, plotting as a bell-shaped normal distribution curve.
Variation where measurements fall along a range and can take any value, for example human height.
Topics that use continuous variation
- Theory of evolution (biology only) (AQA GCSE)
- Inheritance (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- discontinuous variation
- Asexual reproduction
- carrier identification
- chromosomes
- data interpretation
- Differential survival and reproduction
- direct proportion
- DNA
Using continuous variation in the exam
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