discontinuous variation

American  

noun

Biology.

1. variation in phenotypic traits in which types are grouped into discrete categories with few or no intermediate phenotypes.

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Example Sentences

On the basis of the discontinuous variation in several characters which correlate with the disjunct distribution of the two populations, two subspecies of Hyla staufferi are recognized.

From Project Gutenberg

Suppose that evolution "in the open" had taken place in the same way, by means of discontinuous variation.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a plausible view that the transition from the humanoid to the human was effected by a discontinuous variation of considerable magnitude, what is nowadays called a mutation, and that it had mainly to do with the brain and the vocal organs.

From Project Gutenberg

The next letter relates to the rising school of biologists who, in opposition to Darwin's views, held that species might arise by what was at the time termed "discontinuous variation."

From Project Gutenberg

I think I have demolished "discontinuous variation" as having any but the most subordinate part in evolution of species.

From Project Gutenberg