Name:

Class:

Date: January 6, 2024

Lab#: 19

Title: Variation

Aim: To investigate continuous and discontinuous variation

Apparatus/Materials:

1. Metro Ruler

2. Scale
Method:

1) 1 list of the students in the class were made.

2) The height of each student was measured.

3) The results were recorded.

4) Steps 2 and 3 were repeated respectively by asking students to roll their tongues and note

their mass.

5) A class interval-frequency table was created for height and a histogram was plotted.

Results:

TABLE SHOWING VARIOUS TRAITS OF STUDENTS

Student Height (cm) Tongue Rolling Mass (kg)

1. 170 yes 57

2. 165.1 yes 43

3. 157.2 yes 51

4. 180 yes 68

5. 180 yes 63

6. 160 yes 43

7. 162 yes 63

8. 171 yes 59

9. 154 yes 61

10. 160 yes 50

11. 152.4 no 43

12. 165.1 no 61

13. 152.4 yes 45.4

14. 171 no 63
 15. 154.9 yes 55.4

16. 162 yes 65

17. 152 no 54

18. 163.8 no 48

19. 164.1 yes 45

20. 173 yes 62

21. 170 no 60

Discussion:

Variation refers to differences among individuals of the same species caused by genetic and

environmental factors. Surveys for variation provide data that is either continuous, meaning it

comes in a range, or discontinuous, meaning it comes in groups

In this experiment, the students' traits were measured to investigate these two types of variation.

The students' height and mass demonstrated continuous variation as the values varied along a

spectrum with no clear end or boundary. The heights collected ranged from 152.4cm to 180cm,

with 47.6% falling within the 160 to 170cm range. This data indicates that nearly half the sample

size had fairly similar heights that focused on what could be considered the group's usual or

'average' height. A comparable case was displayed for the mass values as well, demonstrating the

gradual changes seen in continuous traits.

In comparison, discontinuous traits fall into distinct categories or groups, which in this case was

the tongue-rolling ability. Discontinuous variation produces a finite set of phenotypes with no

intermediates and in the case of the tongue rolling, you either can or cannot roll your tongue.

According to the data collected, the majority of students (71.4%) displayed the ability to roll

their tongue, while the remainder just couldn't, aligning with the earlier research.
Sources of Error:

1) Students' mass measurements may have been altered by their attire or the objects they

carried in their pockets.

2) Incorrect classification of tongue-rolling skill due to unclear demonstration or a lack of

knowledge.

Precautions:

1) To prevent discrepancies, make sure that all students are measured under similar

conditions for every trait.

2) Before taking height measures, make sure that all students remove their shoes and stand

straight on a flat surface.

Reflection:

The results of this experiment can be applied to better understand how both environmental and

genetic factors contribute to variation within populations. For example, the data on continuous

variation, such as height and mass, show the impact of environmental factors such as nutrition

and physical exercise on these traits. This knowledge can be used in public health campaigns

aimed at fighting malnutrition or obesity, particularly in young people. On the other hand, the

findings on discontinuous variation, demonstrated by the tongue-rolling ability, emphasise the

importance of genetics in determining certain features. This information is useful in teaching

topics in biology such as genetics and heredity, as it helps students understand how features are

passed down within generations.

In conclusion, the experiment demonstrated that continuous variation, such as height and mass, is

impacted by both genetics and environment, whereas discontinuous variation, such as

tongue-rolling, is purely determined by genetics.

References:

1) Resources. (2020, October 26). University of Leicester.

https://le.ac.uk/vgec/topics/gene-inheritance/gene-inheritance-school-colleges

2) Types of variation - Inheritance and genetics - KS3 Biology - BBC Bitesize. (2023,

October 23). BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z6j66g8#zdmxm39

3) Pandai. (2025, January 1). Describe the variation that results from the interaction

between genetic factors and environmental factors. Pandai.

https://app.pandai.org/note/read/kssm-bg-11-12-01/kssm-f5-bg-12-01-06/jenis-dan-faktor

-variasi