continuous variation An assemblage of measurements of a phenotypic character which form a continuous spectrum of values. Examples are body weight, height, or shape, reproductive rate, and various behaviour traits. The continuity of phenotype is a result of two phenomena: (a) each phenotype does not have a single phenotypic expression but a norm of reaction that covers a wide phenotypic range; (b) there may be many segregating loci whose alleles make a difference to the phenotype being observed.

continuous variation An assemblage of measurements of a phenotypic character which form a continuous spectrum of values. The continuity of phenotype is a result of two phenomena:
a. each phenotype does not have a single phenotypic expression but a norm of reaction that covers a wide phenotypic range
;
b. there may be many segregating loci whose alleles make a difference to the phenotype being observed.

continuous variation (quantitative variation) The range of differences that can be observed in many characteristics in a population. Characteristics resulting from polygenic inheritance show continuous variation, e.g. the wide range of foot sizes in an adult human population. Compare discontinuous variation.

continuous variation An assemblage of measurements of a phenotypic character which form a continuous spectrum of values. The continuity of a phenotype is a result of two phenomena: (a)each phenotype does not have a single phenotypic expression but a norm of reaction that covers a wide phenotypic range;(b)there may be many segregating loci whose alleles make a difference to the phenotype being observed.