Genetic Diversity + Adaptation Flashcards
What determines the variety of proteins in each organism?
DNA
How are genetic similarities and differences between organisms defined?
In terms of variation in DNA
Do all members of a species have the same gene?
Yes, but they may have different combinations of alleles for those genes
What determines the variation between individuals of the same species?
Their combination of alleles, not their genes
What is genetic diversity?
The total number of different alleles in a population
What is a population?
A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same place and can interbreed
How + why does greater genetic diversity benefit a species?
There will be a wider range of alleles and characteristic, increasing the chance that some individuals will survive environmental changes and be suited to new conditions
Why are not all alleles equally likely to be passed on to the next generation?
Only individuals that are reproductively successful pass on their alleles
What is a gene pool?
The complete set of different alleles present in a population
How can random mutation affect the gene pool?
It can create a new allele, which usually is harmful but may sometimes be adavantageous
What happens to individuals with an advantageous allele?
They are better adapted, more likely to survive, grow, reproduce and pass on the allele
How does the frequency of an advantageous allele change over generations?
It increases in the population, while the frequency of less advantageous alleles decreases
What is the overall effect of natural selection on a population’s allele frequencies?
It leads to a increase in advantageous alleles and a decrease in non - advantageous alleles over time
