Pigmentation gene (dark allele) found in a dark butterfly Pigmentation gene (light allele) found in a light butterfly Transcription and translation Highly functional pigmentation enzyme Poorly functional pig entation enzyme (a) Molecular level Pigment molecule Wing cells Lots of pigment made Little pigment made (b) Cellular level Dark butterfly Light butterfly (c) Organism level Dark butterflies are usually in forested regions. Light butterflies are usually in unforested regions. (d) Population level
Genetic Variation
Genetic variation refers to the variation in the genome sequences between individual organisms of a species. Individual differences or population differences can both be referred to as genetic variations. It is primarily caused by mutation, but other factors such as genetic drift and sexual reproduction also play a major role.
Quantitative Genetics
Quantitative genetics is the part of genetics that deals with the continuous trait, where the expression of various genes influences the phenotypes. Thus genes are expressed together to produce a trait with continuous variability. This is unlike the classical traits or qualitative traits, where each trait is controlled by the expression of a single or very few genes to produce a discontinuous variation.
Pick any trait you like in any species of wild plant or animal. The
trait must somehow vary among different members of the species
Note: When picking a trait to answer this question, do not pick the trait of wing color in butterflies.
A. Discuss all of the background information that you already
have (from personal observations) regarding this trait.
B. Propose a hypothesis that would explain the genetic variation
within the species. For example, in the case of the butterflies,
your hypothesis might be that the dark butterflies survive better
in dark forests and the light butterflies survive better in sunlit
fields.
C. Describe the experimental steps you would follow to test your
hypothesis.
D. Describe the possible data you might collect.
E. Interpret your data.
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