What term describes differences between members of the same species?

What term describes differences between members of the same species?

• A. Variation
• B. Adaptation
• C. Inheritance
• D. Mutation

Answer: (A)

Differences among individuals within a species are called variation. This variation comes from genetic differences—different alleles you inherit from your parents—as well as environmental influences that can change how those genes are expressed. Variation provides the raw material for evolution because natural selection can act on the range of traits, favoring those that improve survival and reproduction in a given environment. Adaptation refers to a trait that increases fitness in a particular situation, not the everyday differences themselves. Inheritance is about how traits are passed from parents to offspring, which explains how variation can be transmitted across generations. Mutation is a source of new genetic variation, introducing new alleles, but it’s not the term for the differences observed among individuals.

Differences among individuals within a species are called variation. This variation comes from genetic differences—different alleles you inherit from your parents—as well as environmental influences that can change how those genes are expressed. Variation provides the raw material for evolution because natural selection can act on the range of traits, favoring those that improve survival and reproduction in a given environment. Adaptation refers to a trait that increases fitness in a particular situation, not the everyday differences themselves. Inheritance is about how traits are passed from parents to offspring, which explains how variation can be transmitted across generations. Mutation is a source of new genetic variation, introducing new alleles, but it’s not the term for the differences observed among individuals.