Evolution Flashcards

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1
Q

What is evolution

A

evolution is the change overtime in the proportion of individuals in a population differing in one or more inherited traits

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2
Q

How do change sin allele frequency occur

A

Through non-random processes of natural selection and sexual selection, and the random process of genetic drift

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3
Q

What does natural selection act on

A

Acts on genetic variation in populations

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4
Q

What is sexual selection

A

The non-random process involving the selection of alleles that increase the individuals chances of mating and producing offspring

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5
Q

What could sexual selection lead to

A

Sexual dimorphism

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6
Q

What can sexual selection be due to

A

Male-male rivalry and female choice

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7
Q

What is genetic drift

A

The random increase or decrease in frequency of inherited traits over a number of generations

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8
Q

How does genetic drift occur

A

Genetic drift occurs when chance events cause unpredictable fluctuations in allele frequencies from one generation to the next

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9
Q

Why is genetic drift more improtant in small populations

A

As alleles are more likely to be lost from the gene pool

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10
Q

Why is genetic drift important in the bottleneck effect

A

As a population size is reduced dramatically for at least a generation, causing genetic drift, particularly in alleles not being selected for or against.

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11
Q

What is the importance of founder effects on genetic drift

A

Where a few members of the population are isolated from the larger population, the gene pool of the new population population is not representative of the original one

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12
Q

What size of population is genetic drift important in and why

A

Small populations as alleles are most likely to be lost from the gene pool

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13
Q

How can a gene pool be altered by genetic drift

A

As certain alleles may be under-represented or over-represented and allele frequencies change

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14
Q

What does the Hardy-Weinberg principle state

A

It states that in the absence of evolutionary influences, alleles and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant over the generations

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15
Q

What can the Hardy-Weinberg principle be used for

A

Can determine whether a change in allele frequency is occurring in a population over time

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16
Q

What do changes suggest

A

Evolution is occurring

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17
Q

What is fitness an indication of

A

Indication of an individuals ability to be successful at surviving and reproducing

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18
Q

What is natural selection

A

A non-random process which selects individuals based on their survival chances and therefor increase their chances of passing on their inherited traits

19
Q

What is sexual selection

A

The non-random increase in the frequency of alleles that make mating and reproduction more likley

20
Q

What are the causes of evolution

A

evolution
Random process Non-random process
Genetic drift. Natural selec/sexual selec

21
Q

How can fitness be defined

A

Absolute or relative terms

22
Q

What is absolute fitness

A

The ratio between the frequency of individuals of a particular genotype after selection, to those before selection

23
Q

What is relative fitness

A

The ratio of the number of surviving offspring per individual of a particular genotype to the number of surviving offspring per individual of the most successful genotype

24
Q

What can sexual selection be due to

A

Male-male rivalry and female choice

25
Q

What are honest signals

A

Characteristics that allow potential mates to assess the genetic quality or fitness of the males

26
Q

Sexual dimorphism

A

Usually males: larger in size, colouration, structures of behaviours

27
Q

What occurs in some species

A

Reversed sexual dimorphism

28
Q

What are selection pressures

A

The environmental factors tat influence which individuals in a population pass on their alleles

29
Q

What happens when selection pressures are strong

A

The rate of evolution will be more rapid

30
Q

What are biotic selection pressures

A

Competition
Predation
Disease
Parasitism

31
Q

What are abiotic selection pressures

A

Changes in temperature
Light
Humidity
pH or salinity

32
Q

How do you calculate absolute fitness

A

AbF = frequency of particular genotype after selec
————————————————————-
Frequency of particular genotype before selec

33
Q

How do you calculate relative fitness

A

RF = no. Of surviving offspring per individual of particular genotype
—————————————————————-
No. Of surviving offspring per individual of the most successful genotype

34
Q

What is co-evolution

A

The process by which two or more species evolve in response to selection pressures imposed by each other

35
Q

How may species show co-evolution

A

If there are two species which have frequent or close interactions, they my show co-evolution

36
Q

What does the red queen hypothesis state

A

It states that in a co-evolutionary relationship, change in the traits of one species can act as a selection pressure on the other species

37
Q

What is symbiosis

A

Symbiosis is the co-evolved intimate relationship between members of two different species

38
Q

What are the types of symbiotic interactions and the impact of their relationships

A

-Parasitism
-commensalism
-mutualism
Impacts of them can be positive, negative or neutral for the individuals involved

39
Q

What impact does a parasitism symbiosis have

A

+/- symbiosis

40
Q

What is parasitic symbiosis

A

When one species (the parasite) benefits in terms of energy or nutrients.
The Other species (the host) is harmed and loses energy and resources
Parasite uses host for growth and reproduction

41
Q

What impact does commensalism symbiosis have

A

+/0 symbiosis

0 = neutral

42
Q

What is a commensalism symbiosis

A

Commensalism symbiosis is when one species gets a nutritional benefit (the commensal) and the other species (the host) is unaffected

43
Q

What impact does mutualism symbiosis have

A

+/+ symbiosis

44
Q

What is mutualism symbiosis

A

In mutualistic symbiosis, both species involved are interdependent on each other for resources or other services
Both species benefit —> reuslts in co-evolution generating structural compatibility between mutualistic partners and an exchange of metabolic products occurs