What term describes the differences that occur within the same species?

• A. Evolution
• B. Variation
• C. Mutation
• D. Adaptation

Answer: (B)

Variation describes the differences among individuals within the same species. These differences come from the mix of genes they inherit and from environmental influences that shape how traits appear. This diversity is the raw material natural selection acts on, allowing some individuals to be better suited to their environment. Mutation is one source of new genetic differences, but variation encompasses all the differences seen in a population. Evolution refers to how trait frequencies change over generations, and adaptation is a trait that improves survival or reproduction, resulting from those evolutionary changes rather than describing the everyday differences themselves.