Answer:

The variation is important and beneficial for species as it allows a species to adapt to a changing environment.

For example, climate change can force a species to shift its range to poleward or to higher altitudes.

Only those who adopt the changes can survive in harsher conditions by adapting to the changes.

For an individual, the variation doesn't matter in most of the conditions.

Take the example of we humans, if a climate change happens, we can shed our clothes and our body will help us control the temperature, and if the environment gets colder, we can wear more clothes to protect us.

However, in conditions like any new virus or bacteria attack which is harmful to humans, our body has to adapt according to this scenario or we will perish.

Hope its help you.

Introduction:
Variation refers to the differences that exist between individuals within a species. While variation can be beneficial for the species as a whole, it may not always be advantageous for an individual. This can be explained through the concept of natural selection and the example of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Variation and its Benefits for the Species:
1. Adaptation: Variation provides a wider range of traits within a population, increasing the chances of some individuals possessing traits that are better suited for survival in a changing environment.
2. Increased Genetic Diversity: Variation leads to increased genetic diversity within a population, which is crucial for the long-term survival and evolution of a species.
3. Response to Environmental Changes: Variation allows a population to respond to changes in the environment. If a particular trait becomes disadvantageous due to a change in the environment, individuals with alternative traits may have a higher chance of survival.

Example: Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria:
1. Initial Variation: In a population of bacteria, there is naturally occurring genetic variation. Some bacteria may possess traits that make them resistant to certain antibiotics, while others do not.
2. Antibiotic Exposure: When exposed to antibiotics, most bacteria will be killed. However, a few individuals with preexisting resistance due to genetic variation will survive.
3. Natural Selection: The surviving bacteria with antibiotic resistance traits have a reproductive advantage as they can multiply and pass on their resistance genes to their offspring.
4. Increased Resistance: Over time, the population of bacteria becomes dominated by individuals with antibiotic resistance, reducing the effectiveness of the antibiotic.
5. Individual Disadvantage: While antibiotic resistance is beneficial for the species as a whole, an individual bacterium without resistance may be killed by the antibiotic.

Conclusion:
Variation is beneficial to a species as it allows for adaptation, increased genetic diversity, and response to environmental changes. However, at the individual level, variation may not always be advantageous. The example of antibiotic resistance in bacteria illustrates how genetic variation can lead to the survival of a few individuals with beneficial traits while potentially harming those without them.