Evolution, Adaption, and Natural Selection

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

“Evolution is the change over time in allele frequencies, the genetic makeup, in a population of organisms and is the foundation of modern biology, genetics, and ecology”

Question 2

What must there be in a population for selection to occur?

Answer 2

• Variation within populations
• Heritability of at least some of this variation
• Excess offspring per generation
• Non-random survival and reproduction

Question 3

Is selection more efficient in larger or smaller populations?

Answer 3

Larger

Question 4

What are the three ways that natural selection acts on phenotypes?

Answer 4

• Directional selection (Most efficient for changing allelic frequency)
• Disruptive selection (Intermediate phenotype is a disadvantage)
• Stabilizing selection (Intermediate phenotype is an advantage)

Question 5

Which evolutionary forces affect the distribution of sickle cell anemia in populations?

Answer 5

In a population where malaria is present natural selection is the most prominent followed by gene flow.