Lesson 4.6.2.1

4.6.2.1 Variation Quiz: AQA Combined Science, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.6.2.1, Variation: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464), Unit 6: Inheritance, variation and evolution, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Differences in characteristics between individuals of a population are called what?

    • adaptation
    • mutation
    • variation
    • selection

  2. What is a named cause of variation in a population?

    • inherited genes
    • cellular size
    • acquired habits
    • dietary age

  3. Variation caused by the conditions in which an organism developed is said to have which cause?

    • mutational
    • genetic
    • selective
    • environmental

  4. How frequently do genetic mutations occur in organisms?

    • randomly once
    • annually
    • only during mitosis
    • continuously

  5. What effect do most genetic mutations have on the phenotype?

    • no effect
    • fatal effect
    • beneficial effect
    • dominant effect

  6. What proportion of genetic variants determine the phenotype?

    • very few
    • nearly all
    • approximately half
    • the majority

  7. How much genetic variation is typically found within a species population?

    • non-existent
    • extensive
    • identical
    • minimal

  8. What is the term for the observable characteristics of an organism?

    • mutation
    • phenotype
    • gene pool
    • species

  9. Identical seedlings grow to different heights in shade versus light. What causes this?

    • inherited alleles
    • environmental conditions
    • genetic mutation
    • chromosome number

  10. A plant has inherited tall genes but is stunted by poor soil. What causes this variation?

    • genes and environment
    • genes only
    • environment only
    • random mutation

  11. What is the most common outcome of a random DNA mutation?

    • no phenotype change
    • immediate death
    • instant speciation
    • major physical adaptation

  12. Are all phenotypic differences between individuals caused by inherited genes?

    • always
    • yes
    • exclusively
    • no

  13. What type of variation is normally observed across a large plant population?

    • clonal uniformity
    • identical phenotypes
    • extensive variation
    • zero variation

  14. Where do all genetic variants ultimately originate from?

    • mutations
    • respiration
    • fertilisation
    • diffusion

  15. A mutation gives a new phenotype suited to environmental change. What may result?

    • rapid species change
    • chromosomal fusion
    • cellular dormancy
    • immediate extinction

  16. Which of these is NOT a specified cause of variation?

    • inherited genes
    • combined factors
    • environmental conditions
    • time of birth

  17. Which summary correctly describes the phenotypic effects of gene variants?

    • always beneficial
    • mostly fatal
    • mostly no effect
    • always destructive

  18. Why is variation essential for the process of natural selection?

    • DNA never changes
    • differences exist
    • phenotypes are identical
    • organisms are clones

  19. What is the consequence of low genetic variation for future adaptation?

    • increased mutation
    • slower adaptation
    • rapid evolution
    • instant speciation

  20. Which individuals are most likely to survive when a new disease strikes a population?

    • resistant variants
    • all individuals
    • larger organisms
    • non-resistant variants

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