Heritable variation
I can describe examples of different types of variation that can and cannot be passed on to an organism’s offspring.
Heritable variation
I can describe examples of different types of variation that can and cannot be passed on to an organism’s offspring.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- There are differences in the features of individuals of the same species, and this is called variation.
- Some variation is caused by the environment (e.g. injuries) or lifestyle (e.g. exercising to grow big muscles).
- Environmental variation is not heritable, it cannot be passed on to offspring.
- Some variation is caused by genetic information (e.g. the instructions for making claws or camouflaged skin).
- Genetic variation is heritable, it can be passed on to offspring.
Keywords
Variation - Variation is the term for differences between individuals of the same species.
Environmental variation - Differences between individuals that are caused by the environment are known as environmental variation.
Genetic variation - Differences between individuals that are caused by the genetic material they inherit are known as genetic variation.
Offspring - The offspring of a living organism are the young produced following reproduction.
Heritable - Heritable traits are features that can be passed on from a parent to their offspring via instructions stored in genetic material (DNA).
Common misconception
It is common for students to believe that all types of variation can be passed on from parents to their offspring.
This lesson explores examples of variation that can and cannot be passed on from parents to their offspring, and links this to their causes.
To help you plan your year 9 science lesson on: Heritable variation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 science lesson on: Heritable variation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Adaptations, competition, natural selection and evolution unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
