Genetic diversity & adaptation Flashcards
What are alleles?
A different version of the same gene.
What are genes?
A selection of DNA which codes for a specific protein.
What is a mutation?
A change to the quantity or base sequence of the DNA of an organism.
What can be defined in terms of variety in DNA?
Genetic similarities and differences between different organisms.
Do organisms of the same species differ in their combination of genes or their alleles?
Alleles.
All members of the same species have the same genes. Within a species there will be a gene pool containing a wide variety of alleles.
What is genetic diversity?
The total no. of 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.
Why is genetic diversity beneficial?
It increases the chances of survival if the environment changes, through natural selection.
What increases genetic variety?
- More different alleles
- Mutations form new alleles
- Migration of individuals from different populations
How can a wider range of alleles increase the chances of survival if the environment changes?
A wider range of alleles means a wider range of characteristics. This increases the probability that one individual will possess a characteristic that suits the new environmental conditions.
Why can’t all alleles of a population be equally passed on to the next generation?
Because only certain individuals are reproductively successful & pass on their alleles.
What is allele frequency?
A measure for how common a particular allele is in a population.
How does allele frequency change over time?
Due to natural selection. (This leads to evolution)
What are the 3 types of adaptations?
- Anatomical (what it looks like)
- Psychological (how it functions)
- Behavioural (how it behaves)
