Variation and Evolution 2.4

• Inheritance


  Passing of genetic information from parents to offspring
• Variation can be caused by genes and the environment
• Types of variation


  • Continuous
  • Discontinuous
• Causes of variation


  • Genetic
  • Environmental
• Sexual reproduction


  Involves fusion of male and female gametes
• Asexual reproduction


  Does not involve fertilisation, produces genetically identical offspring
• Antibiotic resistance is increasing due to overuse and misuse
• Pesticide resistance is increasing as pests evolve to survive pesticides
• Natural selection


  Survival and reproduction of organisms with the most useful adaptations
• The human genome provides information to treat, cure and prevent diseases