What is the Difference Between Continuous and Discontinuous Traits

What is the difference between continuous and discontinuous variation?

Genetic variation occurs in the form of continuous and discontinuous variation. Mutation and genetic recombination are responsible for genetic variations.

The core difference between continuous and discontinuous variation is that continuous variation unbroken range of phenotype in a population of a particular character while discontinuous variation shows two or more separate forms of character in a population.

What Is Continuous Variation?

Continuous variation is a genetic variation that shows an unbroken range of phenotype of a particular character in a population. The continuous range makes it difficult to classify them.

Examples of continuous variables are weight, height, and length of organisms. Environmental factors tend to influence the phenotypic variation of organisms

Characteristics of Continuous Variation

1. Show intermediate grouping
2. Have a smooth and bell shape curve
3. Tend to be quite common
4. A lot of genes are involved in the determination of a trait
5. No correspondence of genotype and phenotype

What Is Discontinuous Variation?

Discontinuous variation is a genetic variation that portrays two or more separate forms of a character in a population.

The discontinuous range of the phenotype makes it quite easy to categorize. Examples of discontinuous variation are the gender of animals, blood groups of animals and petal colors of the plants.

Characteristics of Discontinuous Variation

1. Show two or more separate form of character
2. The simplest form of genetic variation
3. The trait of the organism is predictable
4. Evolution tends to influence the genetic system
5. Tend to develop periodically

Comparison Chart: Continuous Variation Vs Discontinuous Variation

Basic Terms	Continuous Variation	Discontinuous Variation
Meaning	It is a type of genetic variation that shows an unbroken range of phenotype of a character in a population	It is a genetic variation which shows two or more form of a character in a population
Role of phenotype	Have a continuous range hence difficult to classify	Have discontinuous range hence easy to classify
Intermediate grouping	Tend to happen	Do not occur
Graphical representation	Tend to have a smooth and bell shape curve	Tend not to have a curve shape
Role of genetic variation	Quite common	Simplest form
Number of genes	Have many genes	Have fewer genes
Correspondence of Genotype and Phenotype	Has no correlation	Has one on one correlation
Genetic system	Do not influence the genetic system	Tend to influence genetic system
Alternative name	Fluctuation	Mutation
Examples	Weight, height, and length	Blood groups, petal colors, and gender
Evolution	Increases adaptability	Result in new species

Differences between Continuous and Discontinuous Variation

1. The continuous variation results in fluctuation of mean species while discontinuous variation results in the mutation of species
2. Continuous variation direction is predictable while that of discontinuous variation is unpredictable
3. Evolution makes a continuous variation to increase the adaptability of species while discontinuous variation result in new species
4. Continuous variation occurs due to segregation of chromosomes during gamete formation while discontinuous variation occurs due to changes in genes
5. A continuous variation is also known as fluctuation while discontinuous variation as mutation
6. Continuous variation produces smooth and bell shape curve while discontinuous variation has no curve type in graphical representation
7. Continuous variation is quite common while discontinuous variation occur occasionally
8. Continuous variation do not disturb genetic composition while discontinuous variation disturb the genetic composition
9. The genotype and phenotype is not correspondence to continuous variation while correlating in discontinuous variation
10. Examples of continuous variables are weight, height, and length while discontinuous variation is blood group, gender, and color of petals.

Similarities between Continuous and Discontinuous Variation

1. Both are a type of genetic variation
2. Both occur due to variation in DNA
3. Both causes phenotypic variation in different aspect

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Comparison Video

Summary

The main difference between discontinuous and continuous variation is that discontinuous variation causes changes in the genetic system while continuous variation does not cause change.

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Source: https://coredifferences.com/difference-between-continuous-and-discontinuous-variation/

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