4.2 How did organisms become so well adapted?

Question 1

Natural selection

Answer 1

A process in which individuals
that are fitter (better adapted to their
environment) are more likely to survive and pass
on their genes to future generations. Natural
selection drives evolutionary change.

Question 2

Evolution

Answer 2

The process by which there is a
gradual change in the genetic make-up of
species over time, often long periods of time.
Evolution can give rise to new species if
sufficient change occurs.

Question 3

Gene pool

Answer 3

consists of all the alleles of all the genes present in a population

Question 4

Reproductive isolation

Answer 4

Two populations are
described as being reproductively isolated when
they are unable to breed with each other, or they
produce offspring which fail to survive

Question 5

Speciation

Answer 5

The formation of a new species. It is
generally accepted that for a new species to
arise, a group of individuals has to be isolated
from the rest of the population. There will be
different selection pressures acting on the two
groups, which will become less and less like
each other. Eventually there will come a time
when they are reproductively isolated and can
be considered as distinct species.

Question 6

Hardy-Weinberg Equation

Answer 6

p+q=1

p^2+2pq+q^2=1