or discontinuous variation Variation between individuals of a population in which differences are marked and do not grade into each other, normally brought about by the effects of different alleles at a few major genes. The traits exist only in a limited number of specific forms or are absent.

A trait that shows discontinuous variation - i.e. individuals can be assigned to one of a small number of discrete classes.

A hereditary characteristic of a plant controlled by one or a very small number of genes.

A characteristic of an organism that varies in a discrete, non-continuous manner (e.g., feather colour of birds occurs in discrete states).

A characteristic of an organism that varies in a discrete, non-continuous manner (e.g., hair color of cattle occurs in discrete states, such as white, red, brown, and black).

A trait in which phenotypes are expressed in categories.