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Forest Genetic Resources

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genetic variation

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Reference Definition:

The occurrence of genetic variants (alleles, genes or genotypes).

Genetic variation is brought about by a change in genes, as distinct from differences due to environmental factors.

Source:

Koski, V. et al. 1997. EUFORGEN. IPGRI

 

Other definitions:

genetic variation
Genetic diversity or variation is not explicitly defined in the Convention. Genetic variation includes genetic differences between species and within species. The genetic diversity of a species can be divided into inter-population diversity and intra-population diversity, and further into the diversity within an individual expressed by differences between alleles in the two chromosomes of diploid organisms (degree of individual heterozygosity).

Source:

Graudal, L. et al. 1997. Technical Note 48. Danida Forest Seed Centre

 

genetic variation
Variation due to the contribution of segregating genes and gene interactions.

Source:

Ayad, W.G. 1980. A Glossary of Plant Genetic Resources IBPGR Secretariat. AGP: IBPGR/80/11

 

variation
The occurrence of differences among individuals of the same species attributable to differences in their genetic composition or the environment in which they were raised - note quantitative differences in a given trait are assessed by their variance.

Source:

Helms, J. (ed.) 1998. The Dictionary of Forestry. Society of American Foresters (SAF)

 

variation
Differences in form or function between individuals or populations or species. Variations may or may not be heritable and are caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Natural variation is that which occurs spontaneously.

Source:

IBPGR (comp.) 1991. Elsevier's Dictionary of Plant Genetic Resources. Rome

 

variation Differences in the frequency of genes and traits among individual organisms within a population.

Source:

Hagedorn, S. A. An Annotated Dictionary. http://gophisb.biochem.vt.edu/resources/glossary.htm

 

variation
Difference in performance and characters of individuals due to internal and external factors. In a natural population the phenotypic variation is the product of developmental, environmental and genetic variation. In trials, sampling variation and experimental error make up the residual variation.

Source:

Schmidt, L. 1997. Tree Improvement Glossary. Technical Note 46. Danida Forest Seed Centre.

 

geographic variation
The phenotypic differences among native trees growing in different portions of a species' range. If the differences are largely genetic rather than environmental, the variation is usually specified as racial, ecotypical, or clinal.

Source:

Schmidt, L. Glossary of Terms Used in Forest Tree Improvement. UNDP/FAO (RAS/91/004).

 

phenotypic variation
The total biological variation of a given character.

Source:

Ayad, W.G. 1980. Glossary of Plant Genetic Resources Terms. IBPGR Secretariat. AGP:IBPGR/80/11