3.7.2 Population and Evolution Flashcards
What is continuous variation ?
when the individuals vary in a range so there are no distinct categories
What is discontinuous variation ?
When there are two or more distinct categories and each individual falls into only one category
Give examples of continuous variation
Give examples of discontinuous variation
What causes variation in phenotypes?
The organisms genotypes and the environment
name 3 sources of genetic variaion
Mutation, meiosis (independenet assortment and crossing over) and random fusion of gametes
How does the use of Hardy Weinberg equation allow us to see if evolution has occurred?
Identify changes in the allele frequency over time, if allele frequency has changed then selection has occurred. Also if you do the maths and either of the HW equations doesn’t add to 1 then this suggest evolution
What is a gene pool?
All the alleles of all the genes in a population at a certain time
How can looking at phenotype help to measure genetic diversity of a species?
Different phenotypes are coded for by different alleles, so the larger the number of different phenotypes, the greater the diversity of alleles so the greater the genetic diversity
How can looking at genotype help to measure genetic diversity of a species?
Analyse the sequence of base pairs in DNA samples of organisms. The order of bases in different alleles is slightly different. By sequencing the DNA of individuals of the same species, you can look at similarities and differences in the alleles. The larger the number of dif alleles the greater the genetic diversity
Define ‘selection pressure’
environmental factors that limit the population of a species
Define ‘directional selection’
When individuals away from the mean are selected for. One extreme is selected in favour of the other so the normal distribution shifts in one direction
Define ‘disruptive selection’
When individuals away from the mean are selected for. Individuals at both extremes are selected in favour of those near the mean so the normal distribution becomes ‘squashed’ in the middle
Draw the effects of 3 types of selection pressure on this curve
insert pic