Questions and Answers

Describe natural selection with reference to: (a) genetic variation within populations (b) production of many offspring (c) struggle for survival, including competition for resources (d) a greater chance of reproduction by individuals that are better adapted to the environment than others (e) these individuals pass on their alleles to the next generation

Explain the adaptive features of hydrophytes and xerophytes to their environments

Interpret images or other information about a species to describe its adaptive features

Describe an adaptive feature as an inherited feature that helps an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment

Describe gene mutation as a random change in the base sequence of DNA

State that ionising radiation and some chemicals increase the rate of mutation

State that mutation is the way in which new alleles are formed

Describe mutation as genetic change

State that discontinuous variation is usually caused by genes only and continuous variation is caused by both genes and the environment

State that discontinuous variation results in a limited number of phenotypes with no intermediates; examples include ABO blood groups, seed shape in peas and seed colour in peas