What is the difference between continuous and discontinuous variation?

Specie variation shows how unique organisms can be. Example dogs come in different sizes, height, color, breed, and so on. There are two types of variation in species; we have the discontinuous and continuous variation in species. Continuous variation is when different types of variation are distributed on a continuum, while discontinuous variation is when different types of variation are placed into discrete categories.

The main difference between continuous and discontinuous variation is that continuous variation shows an unbroken level of phenotypes of a particular trait in a species during the discontinuous variation, two or more different traits in the species. There is an intermediate grouping in continuous variation, while intermediate groupings are absent in discontinuous variation. Continuous variation gives a smooth, bell-shaped curve, while discontinuous variation gives the simplest form of genetic variation.

The main difference between discontinuous and continuous is that continuous will be able to provide an unbroken range of phenotypes. Another thing that you should know about continuous is that it will be able to fluctuate its different variations with the different species that are available.

The direction will also be predictable for continuous, but the direction will not be that obvious when you check out discontinuous. Continuous will also have the ability to make the race more adaptable, but it does not mean that it will have the ability to form new species. Discontinuous variations will always be considered as new variations, although other similar variations may have already occurred in the past.

Continuous and Discontinuous are two types of genetic variations. One of the key differences between them is what each variation shows. The continuous variation shows a range of phenotypes that are unbroken. These phenotypes will be of a specific character in a population.

An example of this would be the height or weight of an organism. The discontinuous variation shows many forms of characters in a population. They can be two or more. Examples of this can be the blood types of organisms or the color of flower petals.

Another difference between them is how they curve. Continuous variations have a bell-shaped curve. Discontinuous variation does not have any curve.

The main difference concerning continuous and discontinuous variation is that continuous variation is the variant that has no cap on the value that can occur within a population. In contrast, discontinuous variation is the variation that has two distinct groups for organisms to belong. A sequence of changes of a certain attribute in a population is demonstrated from one extreme to the other in a continuous variation.

The frequency distribution of a trait that presents a continuous variation is a standard distribution curve with a conventional bell shape. In such a curvature, the mean, mode, and medium are all the same. Discontinuous variation has a few characteristics of those in a population that may present a limited variation. These individuals possess accurate variations within them without the presence of any intermediates for the characteristic.

For example, some people have type A negative or positive blood, while some have type B or something else, as there are four different blood types. Everyone has a positive and a negative blood type. Discontinuous variations are determined by a single gene or a small group of genes. The phenotypic developments of them are generally not influenced due to environmental factors. Discontinuous variation does not demonstrate normal distribution or average mean like continuous variation. It does not generate a curve and can only be represented using a bar graph.