Evolution of Populations Flashcards
Evolution occurs in _______ NOT _________
Evolution occurs in populations NOT individuals
Genetic basis of evolution
Biological species
group of similar individuals who mate + produce viable fertile offspring
Geographic variation
change in the genetic composition of separate populations
Population
group of individuals of the same species living in the same geographical area
Individuals of a population generally have the same number + type of genes
what’s different?
Some variation due to environment, some due to heredity
Population genetics
science that studies the process of microevolution
Microevolution
Exchange in the genetic makeup of a population from generation to generation
Gene pool
All copies of every type of allele at every locus in all members of the population
Allelic frequency
The % of alleles in a gene pool
The Hardy-Weinberg Principle:
Compare the scenario with data from a real population
- If there are no differences → real population is not evolving
- If there are differences → suggests real population may be evolving
Genotype frequency
the proportion of a particular genotype in the population
The Hardy-Weinberg Principle
- One way to assess if natural selection or other factors are causing evolution at a particular locus
- Determine what the genetic makeup of a population would be if it were not evolving at that locus
If allele frequency changes over generations → __________
If allele frequency changes over generations → evolution is occurring
Factors causing microevolution
(5)
- Mutations (random mechanism)
- Sexual recombination (random mechanism)
- Natural selection (adaptive, non-random)
- Genetic drift (random mechanism)
- Gene flow (random mechanism)
Mutation
change in the nucleotide sequence of an organism’s DNA
where do most mutations occur
- Most mutations occur in somatic cells + lost when individual dies
- Only mutations in gametes can be passed onto offspring
Mutation rate
tend to be low in animal in plants + more rapid in microorganism