Introduction

What is Variation?

In general, variation can be defined as the act of varying, process of

varying or the result of varying. However, in biology, variation means a
difference or deviation from the normal or recognized form, function, or
structure. Human genetic variation is the genetic diversity of humans
observed within the human species. At the DNA level, humans are both very
similar to and very different from one another. On average, pairs of individual
humans share 99.9 percent DNA sequence identity. However, no two humans
are genetically identical.
What Cause Variation in Humans?

There are numerous reasons why genetic variation exists between

populations. Causes of variation between individuals include the exchange of
genes during meiosis. During meiosis, recombination between chromosomes
(crossing-over) produce chromosomes with their own unique sequences that
have many new genetic variants of a character. Thus, the offspring will
possess similar and different genetic characteristics from the parents in result
of the combination of genes.
Mutation also cause variation in humans. Mutation is any change
occurring in the message that a gene carries because there are copy errors
when DNA is replicated at mitosis and meiosis. It may be caused by radiation,
viruses and mutagenic chemicals that are also known as carcinogens.
Mutation can result in several different types of change in DNA sequences that
either have no effect, alter the product of a gene, or prevent the gene from
functioning properly or completely.
Another cause of genetic variation within a population is gene flow
caused by migration. When individuals arrive from distant parts, they will often
have different genotypes from the local population, thus they provide new
genetic variation. An individual organism that migrates brings its alleles into
the new population and some of these alleles may be different from the alleles
that are currently in the population. When new alleles are brought into a
population through gene flow, the genetic variation within the population has
increased.
Significance of Variation

Variation in the human population are very significant for many reasons.
Genetic diversity and biodiversity are dependent upon each other, in other
words, diversity within a species is necessary to maintain diversity among
different species, and vice versa. If any one type is compromised, the
community may be dominated by a single species. Therefore, variation is
needed to maintain a balance amongst species. Other than that, variation
plays a very important role in survival and adaptability of a species. This is
because, when a species’ environment changes, slight gene variations are
necessary to produce changes in the organisms' that enable it to adapt and
survive. With the absence of variation within a species, healthy reproduction
becomes difficult and the offspring will not develop adaptations in terms of
immunity and other aspects.
Types of Variation
Variation occurs when individuals within a population differ in their
characteristics.There are two forms of variation, that is continuous and
discontinuous variation.
Characteristics showing continuous variation vary in a general way, with
a complete range of values between the extremes. Examples of continuous
variation include height, weight, hand span and shoe size. These type of traits
are usually measured with some sort of numerical unit (e.g. centimeters for
height or kilograms for weight). If a sample of data from a population is taken
and a frequency polygon or histogram is plotted, the data will show a typical
bell-shaped normal distribution curve, with the mean, mode and median all
being the same and extreme values are rare.

Variation in terms Variation in terms

of height in a of height in a
population population

Continuously Varying Trait

Proportion of Population

Trait value (e.g. Height)

 Figure 1.0 Example of a Frequency Polygon for Continuous Variation
On the other hand, discontinuous variation are traits that fall into a few
very distinct classes or categories. These traits are not measurable by
numerical values and is based on features that cannot be calculated across a
complete range. The person either have the characteristic or they don’t. For
example, the ability to roll the tongue, blood groups, type of hair (straight or
curly) and eye colour. Such data is called discrete or categorical data.

Variation in terms Variation in terms

of eye colour. of type of hair.

Discontinuously Varying Trait

Proportion of Population

Figure 2.0 Example of a Histogram for Discontinuous Variation

Trait value (e.g. Eye Colour)

Progress Report
 DATE ACTIVITY ATTENDA
NCE
02.06.20 Briefing about the project by Puan Rozi Samdin. 25
10 students
02.06.20 Collecting raw data for the investigation 25
10 students
09.06.20 Writing the reports for each investigation conducted -
10
05.06.20 1. Surfing the net:
10 a) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_genetic_v
ariation -
b) http://en.mimi.hu/biology/variation.html
c) http://www.biotopics.co.uk/genes/varn.html
19.06.20 Compilation of data among team members. -
10
20.06.20 Printing of project report. -
10
Project Results

Report for Investigating Variation of Weight among

Students of 5 Alamanda
Aim:
To investigate the variation of weight among students in 5 Alamanda.

Problem statement:
Is the variation of weight among students in 5 Alamanda continuous?

Hypothesis:
The variation of weight among students in 5 Alamanda is continuous.

Material and apparatus:

Weighing machine, genetic variation survey sheet

Technique:
Measuring the weight of each student by using the weighing machine.

Procedure:
1. The weights of each student in 5 Alamanda are recorded in the genetic
variation survey.
2. A histogram is constructed for each measured or noted characteristic.
3. The mean, median and mode of the set of data was determined.
Results:

Body Mass (kg) 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79

Number of 2 13 9 0 1
Students

Number of Students against Body Mass (kg)

14
Number of Students

12
10
8
6 13
4 9
2
2 1
0 0
30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79
Body Mass (kg)

Number of Students

Analysis:
1. Characteristic such as weight shows continuous variation. There is a
normal distribution about a mean and single mode.
2. The lowest measurement of weight amongst the students is 38.5kg and
the highest measurement of weight is 71.0kg.
3. The mode of body mass = 40-49kg.
4. The mean for the set of data is = 48.5kg.
5. The median of the set of data = the class 40-48kg.
Conclusion:
Variation of weight among students in 5 Alamanda is continuous. The
hypothesis is accepted.

Report for Investigating Variation of Height among

Students of 5 Alamanda

Aim of Experiment:
To investigate the variation in height among students in 5 Alamanda.

Problem statement:
Is the variation of height among students in 5 Alamanda continuous?

Hypothesis:
The variation of height among students in 5 Alamanda is continuous.

Material and apparatus:

Height scale, genetic variation survey sheet

Technique:
Measuring the height of each student by using the height scale.

Procedure:

1. The heights of each student in 5 Alamanda are recorded in the genetic

variation survey.
2. A histogram is constructed for each measured characteristic of student.

Results:
Table
Height (cm) Frequency
 146-150 4
151-155 6
156-160 6
161-165 7
166-170 6
171-175 2

Number of Students against Height (cm)

8 7
Number of Students

6 6 6
6
4
4
2
2

0
146-150 151-155 156-160 161-165 166-170 171-175
Height of Students (cm)

Frequency

Analysis:
6. Characteristic such as height shows continuous variation. There is a
normal distribution about a mean and single mode.
7. The lowest measurement of weight amongst the students is 38.5kg and
the highest measurement of weight is 172.0cm
8. The mode of height = 161-165cm.
9. The mean for the set of data is = 160.1cm
10. The median of the set of data = the class 156-160cm.

Conclusion:
Variation of height among students in 5 Alamanda is continuous. The
hypothesis is accepted.
Report for Investigating Variation in the Aspect of the
Ability of Rolling the Tongue, Type of Hair and Presence of
Dimples among Students of 5 Alamanda

Aim of Experiment:
To investigating variation in the aspect of the ability of rolling the tongue, type
of hair and presence of dimples among students of 5 Alamanda.

Problem Statement:
1. Are tongue rollers more common than non-tongue rollers?
2. Are there more students that have straight hair compared to curly hair?
3. Are there more dimpled-cheek students than those without dimples?

Hypothesis:
1. Most students of 5 Alamanda can roll their tongue.
2. Most students of 5 Alamanda have straight hair.
3. Most students of 5 Alamanda have dimples.

Materials and Apparatus:

Tally sheet to record data

Technique:
Observe and record the amount students that are able to roll their tongue,
type of hair and the presence of dimples.
Procedure:
1. By using a tally sheet, the ability to roll their tongue, type of hair and the
presence of dimples among the students was observed.
2. The data was recorded in a table.
3. The data was interpreted into a diagram and analysed.

Results:

The Ability to Roll the Tongue

Rolling of Tongue
Trait Rolled Unrolled
Number of Students 19 6

Ability to Roll the Tongue

Unrolled
6

Rolled
Unrolled

Rolled
19
Type of Hair

Type of Hair
Trait Straight Curly
Number of Students 22 3

Type of Hair

Curly
3

Straight
Curly

Straight
22

Presence of Dimples

Presence of Dimples
Trait Present Absent
Number of Students 21 4

Presence of Dimples

Absent
4

Present
Absent

Present
21
Analysis:

a) The Ability to Roll the Tongue

More students are able to roll their tongue compared to students that cannont
roll their tongue. Traits that can roll their tongue are dominant traits while
traits that cannot roll their tongue are recessive traits

b) Type of Hair
The number of students that have straight hair is greater than the number of
students that have curly hair.

c) Presence of Dimples
The number of students that have dimpled-cheeks are greater than the
number of students that have no dimples.

Conclusion:
1. Most students of 5 Alamanda can roll their tongue.
2. Most students of 5 Alamanda have straight hair.
3. Most students of 5 Alamanda have dimples.

The three traits are all discontinuous variation. All the hypothesis are
accepted.