Variation and Adaptation A variation is a trait or behavior that makes one plant or animal different from other of the same species. For example, flowers come in different colors and shapes. Some are white and some are red, some have fragrance and some don't, some are flat and wide and some are tall and narrow. Bean plants produce beans with different numbers of seeds. Some beans have only one or two seeds, and some beans have as many as nine or ten beans.
Dogs come in different colors.
Some are white, some are brown, and some are black. These variations can help plants and animals survive in their environment. The color of dogs and the number of seeds in a bean pod are variations. Sometimes a variation will be an advantage because it may give the plant or animal a better chance for survival. When a variation gives a plant or animal a better chance for survival, it is called an adaptation.