continuous variation

views updated Jun 27 2018

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

views updated May 23 2018

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

views updated May 29 2018

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

views updated May 23 2018

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.

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