Mechanisms of Evolution Flashcards
Founder Effect
A form of genetic drift that occurs when a small group of individuals breaks away from a larger population to establish a new colony. The new population may have reduced genetic variation, and certain alleles may be overrepresented or absent, leading to differences from the original population.
Gene Flow
The movement of genetic material between populations . Gene flow tends to increase genetic variation within a population and can reduce differences between populations.
Gene Pool
The complete set of alleles present in a population or species, representing all the genetic variations that can be passed onto the next generation.
Genetic Drift
The random fluctuation of allele frequencies in a population due to chance events, particularly in small populations. It can lead to the loss of genetic diversity over time, independent of natural selection.
Genetic Variation
The diversity of alleles and genotypes within a population.
Mutation
A change in the DNA sequence of an organism, which can lead to the creation of new alleles. Mutations are the primary source of genetic variation and can be caused by errors in DNA replication, environmental factors, or other processes.
Natural Selection
The process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment have higher survival and reproductive success than those with less advantageous traits. Over time, beneficial traits become more common in a population, while harmful traits are selected against.
Population Bottleneck
A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events (such as natural disasters) or other factors. This leads to a loss of genetic diversity and can cause certain alleles to become more prevalent by chance.
Sexual Selection
A natural selection process that occurs when organisms compete for mates or choose mates based on certain traits
