Lecture 9: Inheritance, Variation, and Evolution

Question 1

What is a population?

Answer 1

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same place at the same time

Question 2

What is one of the most common misconceptions about evolution?

Answer 2

An individual can evolve. Although natural selection does act on individuals, evolution is defined only in terms of changes in population over time.

Question 3

What are gene pools?

Answer 3

All of the forms of all the genes in a population at any one time is called the gene pool. Natural selection acts on gene pools; those traits that enhance survival are more likely to be passed on to the next generation and therefore will be represented with increasing frequency in the gene pool

Question 4

What is micro evolution?

Answer 4

The generation to generation change in the gene pool to better the survival of a population is called micro evolution, which is evolution occurring on its smallest scale.

Question 5

What is genetic variation?

Answer 5

Changes to the genetic makeup of a population and the individuals within it can arise through two mechanisms: mutations and sexual recombination

Question 6

What is mutation within genetic variation?

Answer 6

Mutations are random changes to DNA. For example, a mutation in a gene may substitute one DNA nucleotide for another, which may have no effect, a negative effect, or a positive effect (rarely) on the organism.

Question 7

What is sexual recombination within genetic variation?

Answer 7

Sexual recombination produces new arrangements of existing genes. During the formation of gametes, chromosomes exchange pieces with one another during the process of crossing over, and then randomly sort apart from each other, a process called indépendant assortment.

Question 8

Finish this sentence: “Evolution is…..”

Answer 8

Change over time

Question 9

Consider the beige and white mice. If mutation occurred in hair cells to produce differences in their coat colour, would this mutation be passed on to the next generation?
A) Yes it would
B) No it would not

Answer 9

A) Yes it would

Question 10

Your friend is wondering how the new coat colour arose in this mouse population. What are the possible reasons? Select all that apply?
A) a mutation passed on from previous generations
B) a mutation in the hair cells of the mouse
C) a particular food that that mouse is eating that affects fur colour
D) sexual recombination

Answer 10

A), B) and D)