Interpret phenotype data to distinguish continuous and discontinuous variation, then identify the genetic and environmental factors that explain the observed pattern in Cambridge A Level Biology questions.
The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, is an insect that shows discontinuous variation in colour pattern and continuous variation in body size.
Within a species, the variation that is observed for a particular characteristic can be described as discontinuous or continuous.
Discontinuous variation has a different genetic basis from continuous variation.
State two differences between discontinuous variation and continuous variation, other than having a different genetic basis.