genetic diversity and adaption

Question 1

Define genetic diversity

Answer 1

The number of different alleles of genes in a population

Question 2

what is selection

Answer 2

the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment survive and breed, whilst those who are less adapted die

Question 3

distinguish between stabilising selection and directional selection

Answer 3

directional- extreme phenotypes are favoured, changes characteristics of a population, distribution curve remains same shape but shifts left or right

stabilising- phenotypes around the mean are favoured, preserves characteristics of a population, distribution curve becomes narrower and higher but mean is constant

Question 4

describe the process of natural selection (4)

Answer 4

• random mutation results in new alleles of a gene
• mutations may be harmful but can be advantageous in some environments
• advantageous allele is inherited by members of next generation
• allele frequency increases within the population over many generations