Rocket lines up photos of five giraffes. "How can scientists tell them apart?" he asks.
Raven points at their necks. "What do you notice about each spot pattern?"
Nova draws circles around a few patches. "Look for a pattern that repeats on two giraffes," she says.
Rocket looks and looks. He cannot find one!
Variation means the small differences between living things of the same kind.
Every giraffe has its own spot pattern.
A giraffe's pattern does not change as it gets older.
So scientists use spot patterns to tell giraffes apart.
Your beans showed variation too. Same kind of plant, different lengths.
| Group | Trait they share | Variation we see |
|---|---|---|
| Giraffes | They all have spots | Each spot pattern is different |
| Beans | Same kind and shape | Different lengths |
| Sunflowers | Yellow petals and a big center | Different heights |
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| A giraffe spot pattern changes every year. | ? |
| Members of the same kind can show variation. | ? |
| Offspring can look like parents and still be a little different. | ? |
Offspring are alike in many ways. They are also a little different.
Two kittens from the same parents both have fur and whiskers.
But one may have more stripes. One may have bigger ears.
Those small differences are variation. Every group of living things has some.
Wonderful thinking! Tomorrow we find out why offspring get traits from both parents.