What is the difference between discontinuous and continuous

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These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Variations, the small differences that exist between individuals can be described as being either discontinuous or continuous. In continuous variation, there is a complete range of measurements from one extreme to the other. Human height is an example of continuous variation. It ranges from that of the shortest person to the tallest person in the world.

Any height is possible between these values. Individual can have a complete range of heights, for example 1. This is what is referred to as continuous variation. Continuous variation is the combined effect of many genes known as polygenic inheritance and is often significantly affected by environmental influences. Generally, it is the most common type of genetic variation governed by the presence of many genes. The weight and height of animals are examples of continuous variation.

In contrast, discontinuous variation is the second type of genetic variation in which a particular character shows only several phenotypes. Therefore, the continuous and discontinuous variation is the range of phenotypes for a particular character. An Introduction to Genetic Analysis. New York: W. Freeman; Genetic variation Available Here. View all posts.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply. 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. 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.