Chapter 20 Flashcards
Genetic Variation and Evolution
Genetic variation
Differences in alleles of genes found within individuals in a population.
Natural populations contain much variation.
Evolution
How an entity changes through time.
Development of modern concept traced to Darwin.
“Descent with modification”.
Natural selection can
lead to change in allele frequencies
Population genetics
Study of properties of genes in a population
Genetic variation
Genetic variation in populations now measured using increasingly sophisticated tools
S N Ps
Used to assess patterns in over 300 species
> 100,000 human genomes partially or wholly sequenced
Blending inheritance
offspring expected to be phenotypically intermediate relative to parents
Hardy–Weinberg principle
Predicts genotype frequencies
Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium
Proportions of genotypes do not change in a population as long as:
No mutation takes place
No genes are transferred to or from other sources (no immigration or emigration)
Mating is random
The population size is very large
No selection occurs
Hardy–Weinberg principle equation
Frequency of first allele is p, second allele is q
p + q = 1 in a population
p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1
What makes populations vary from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
Natural selection might favor homozygotes over heterozygotes.
Individuals may choose to mate with genetically similar individuals.
Influx of individuals from other populations
Mutations occurring
Agents of evolutionary change
Mutation
Rates generally low
Other evolutionary processes usually more important in changing allele frequency
Ultimate source of genetic variation
Makes evolution possible
Gene flow
Movement of alleles from one population to another
Animal physically moves into new population
Drifting of gametes or immature stages of plants or animals into an area
Pollen and seeds can travel long distances
More Agents of evolutionary change
Nonrandom mating
Assortative mating
Phenotypically similar individuals mate
Increases proportion of homozygous individuals
Disassortative mating
Phenotypically different individuals mate
Produces excess of heterozygotes
Genetic drift
Genetic drift
In small populations, allele frequency may change by chance alone.
Population must be large to be in H-W equilibrium.
Magnitude of genetic drift is inversely related to population size.
Can lead to the loss of alleles in isolated populations and uncommon alleles are more vulnerable.
Founder effect
Bottleneck effect
Founder effect
One or a few individuals disperse and become the founders of a new, isolated population
Bottleneck effect
Drastic reduction in population size due to drought, disease, other natural forces