Chapter 3: Modern Synthesis Flashcards
define population genetics
what happens to genes in populations undergoing natural selection
what is genotypic frequency?
a fraction of a population that carries a specific genotype
what is the hardy-weinberg equilibrium?
when genotypic frequencies remain the same between generations in the absence of disturbing factors
what are the 5 conditions of the hardy-weinberg equilibrium?
- random mating (a. all members must mate b. all members have same number of offspring)
- no mutations
- no natural selection
- no gene flow/migration
- large population
what does it mean if the conditions of the hardy-weinberg are not met?
it means evolution is happening
what is necessary for natural selection to work?
variation within populations
what are hidden variatons?
variants that may be drawn out during selective reproduction
what is behavioural flexibility?
the ability to adjust behaviour to certain circumstances
what is a biological trade off?
when one trait is favoured while another is selected against (negative correlation)
what does it mean to be genetically canalized?
to be fixed / insensitive to the environment
what does it mean to be behaviourally plastic?
to be flexible / sensitive to the environment
is flexibility in behaviour heritable?
yes
what are pleiotropic effects?
when one gene influences multiple traits
what is sampling variation?
variation in the composition of small samples drawn from large populations
what is genetic drift?
random change in gene frequencies due to sampling variations in small populations