genetic diversity and natural selection

Question 1

what is meant by genetic diversity ?

Answer 1

it is the number of different alleles of genes in a population

Question 2

when can natural selection only occur ?

Answer 2

natural selection can only occur if there is genetic diversity within a population

Question 3

what is meant by variation ?

Answer 3

the differences in organisms characteristics

Question 4

what is meant by interspecific ?

Answer 4

variation between species

Question 5

what is meant by intraspecific ?

Answer 5

variation within the same species

Question 6

what is meant by a community ?

Answer 6

different species living in the same environment

Question 7

what is variation caused by ?

Answer 7

• inheritance
• change in the environment

Question 8

what is meant by a species ?

Answer 8

a group of similar organisms that can reproduce to yield fertile offspring

Question 9

what is meant by evolution ?

Answer 9

it is a gradual change in allele frequencies in a population over a long period of time (over many generations)

Question 10

what is natural selection ?

Answer 10

it is the process that leads to evolution in populations

Question 11

what does natural selection result in the species being ?

Answer 11

natural selection results in the species being better adapted to their environment

Question 12

what are the 3 categories of adaptations ?

Answer 12

• anatomical ( physical characteristics)
• physiological (chemicals within the body )
• behavioural

Question 13

state the process of natural selection

Answer 13

• there is genetic diversity in the population due to random genetic mutations
• selective pressure exists e.g change in climate , new predator, new food source etc
• some of the population is more likely to reproduce
• those with advantageous alleles will produce more copies of it when they reproduce to the next generation
• over many generations , there is an increase in the frequency of the advantageous alleles