Question 73 of 80
Q.Differentiate continuous variation with discontinuous variation.
Tamil Nadu DgeTamil Nadu HSC (DGE) Board 2025Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
91% · 73/80 Questions
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Continuous variation gives a smooth, polygenic range of phenotypes (e.g. height); discontinuous variation gives a few sharply distinct, single-gene classes (e.g. blood group).
| Feature | Continuous variation | Discontinuous variation |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of variation | Smooth, gradual, quantitative -- forms an unbroken range with many intermediate phenotypes | Sharp, qualitative -- a small number of discrete, clearly distinguishable classes with no intermediates |
| Genetic basis | Polygenic -- controlled by MANY genes, each with a small, additive effect | Usually monogenic/oligogenic -- controlled by ONE gene, or very few genes, each with a large effect |
| Effect of environment | Strongly influenced by environmental factors (nutrition, climate, etc.) in addition to genes | Largely unaffected by the environment; the phenotype is determined almost entirely by genotype |
| Distribution pattern | Typically follows a bell-shaped (normal) distribution curve when plotted across a population | Typically shows separate, discrete peaks/classes, not a smooth curve |
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