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0610 IGCSE Biology/Topic 18 Variation and selection/7 interactive simulations/drag to rotate the 3D models

Variation and selection, made interactive

Seven 3D simulations covering Topic 18.1 Variation, 18.2 Adaptive features and 18.3 Selection. Line up a class, sort pea seeds, mutate a gene, explore adapted organisms, and watch natural and artificial selection change populations over generations. Tabs marked Extended cover the Supplement.

1. Continuous variation 3D · 18.1

Variation is the differences between individuals of the same species. Height varies continuously: there is a range of values between two extremes. Line the class up and plot the results.

drag to rotate · wheel to zoom

Class of 40

2. Discontinuous variation 3D · 18.1

Some features fall into a few distinct groups with no intermediates. Sort a pile of pea seeds by shape or colour, or a class by blood group.

drag to rotate · wheel to zoom

Feature

3. Mutation 3D · 18.1

A mutation is a genetic change. It is the way new alleles are formed. Ionising radiation and some chemicals increase the rate of mutation. Expose a gene and count the changes.

drag to rotate · wheel to zoom

Mutagen

BASES CHANGED
0
NEW ALLELE?
no

4. Adaptive features 3D · 18.2

An adaptive feature is an inherited feature that helps an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment. Pick an organism and click its features.

click a feature · drag to rotate · wheel to zoom

Organism

5. Natural selection 3D · 18.3

Peppered moths vary in colour. Birds eat the moths they can see most easily. Choose the colour of the tree bark and watch the population change over the generations.

drag to rotate · wheel to zoom

Environment

GENERATION
0
DARK MOTHS

6. Antibiotic resistance 3D · 18.3Extended

A random mutation can make a bacterium resistant to an antibiotic. When the antibiotic is used, the resistant bacteria survive and multiply. Treat the colony and watch a resistant strain develop.

drag to rotate · wheel to zoom

Petri dish

BACTERIA
RESISTANT

7. Selective breeding 3D · 18.3

Farmers choose the plants with the most desirable feature, cross them and select again from the offspring. Click the wheat plants with the biggest ears of grain (or let the computer pick), then breed the next generation.

click plants to select · drag to rotate · wheel to zoom

Breeding

GENERATION
0
MEAN YIELD
Built for Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610, Topic 18. Models are simplified and not to scale; population models use random numbers, so each run differs.

About this lab: Variation and selection

Seven interactive 3D simulations for Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 topic 18 Variation and selection: continuous variation in the heights of a class with a histogram, discontinuous variation in pea seeds and blood groups, mutation by ionising radiation and chemicals, adaptive features of the arctic fox, xerophytes and hydrophytes, natural selection in peppered moths, the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and selective breeding of wheat.

Seven 3D simulations covering Topic 18.1 Variation, 18.2 Adaptive features and 18.3 Selection. Line up a class, sort pea seeds, mutate a gene, explore adapted organisms, and watch natural and artificial selection change populations over generations. Tabs marked Extended cover the Supplement.

Variation and selection is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (topic 18 Variation and selection). The course is assessed in Paper 1/2 (Multiple choice), Paper 3/4 (Theory), Paper 5 (Practical Test), Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical). Syllabus for examination in 2026-2028. There are 7 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

Full syllabus map: IGCSE Biology 0610 topic 18.

How to use this simulation

  1. 1. Continuous variation. Variation is the differences between individuals of the same species.
  2. 2. Discontinuous variation. Some features fall into a few distinct groups with no intermediates.
  3. 3. Mutation. A mutation is a genetic change.
  4. 4. Adaptive features. An adaptive feature is an inherited feature that helps an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.
  5. 5. Natural selection. Peppered moths vary in colour.
  6. 6. Antibiotic resistance. A random mutation can make a bacterium resistant to an antibiotic.
  7. 7. Selective breeding. Farmers choose the plants with the most desirable feature, cross them and select again from the offspring.
  8. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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