Skip to page content |

Tiscali Quicklinks. Please visit our Accessibility Page for a list of the Access Keys you can use to find your way around the site, skip directly to the main navigation, to the page content, or to more links within reference.

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Content Starts Here


variety

encyclopaedia header
Encyclopaedia Search
Click a letter for the index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Or search the encyclopaedia:
 
 
 
all results tagged with the © symbol denotes content that is relevant to the national curriculum

Variety


In biology, a stable group of organisms within a single species, clearly different from the rest of the species. Such a group would generally be called a variety for plants and a breed for animals. The differences lie in their genetic make-up and could have arisen naturally – through natural selection or as a result of selective breeding by humans. Most varieties have been produced by selective breeding, for example ‘Cox's’, ‘Golden Delicious’, and ‘Bramley’ apple varieties.

In most species there are often genetic differences between individuals that cause them to be distinct. These are not varieties – a variety is a group of individuals. However, not every genetically distinct group can be a variety. There must be a greater degree of variation between varieties than within the varieties for the term to be appropriate. This can be shown by collecting data on the mass, length, and diameter of varieties of tomato, potato, or runner bean, for example.

Selective breeding results in the production of new varieties if enough useful characteristics are brought together in one group. The ‘Bramley’ apple variety had the characteristics of vigorous growth, disease resistance, large apples, good storage, and soft texture on cooking. This has made it a popular cooking apple in some countries.

© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.


 
 

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends


Botswana Flag
Botswana Flag Blue stands for water and rain. Black and white represent the racial harmony of the people. Effective date: 30 September 1966. >>

Advertorial

AdvertorialFind out how to buy the things you've always wanted and sell the things you don't on ebay.

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Page Footer