Mutation

Question 1

Is mutation an important evolutionary force?

Answer 1

On its own, mutation doesn’t lead to rapid evolution of allele frequencies at a single locus
It may lead to important changes over long periods of time if it is the only factor affecting allele frequencies

Question 2

Generally, how do mutations affect fitness?

Answer 2

Most mutations have either little effect on fitness or negative effects

Question 3

How common are beneficial mutations?

Answer 3

Beneficial mutations are rare and exponentially distributed

Question 4

Which is more common, beneficial mutations with small positive effects or with large positive effects?

Answer 4

Beneficial mutations with small positive effects.

Question 5

What do these two equations represent? Define each variable.

Answer 5

p and q represent frequencies of the wild-type and mutant alleles, respectively.
p1/q1 are the frequencies after one generation
p0/q0 are the initial frequencies
mew is the mutation rate

Question 6

When calculating allele frequencies based on mutation rate, what assumption must be made?

Answer 6

Back mutation is not occurring.

Question 7

What is the typical mutation rate?

Answer 7

10^-8

Question 8

What does this equation represent? Define each variable.

Answer 8

p represents the frequency of a wild type allele
pn = frequency after n generations
p0 = initial frequency
mew = mutation rate
n = number of generations

Question 9

What does this equation represent? Define all variables.

Answer 9

This equation is used to determine the number of generation times.
mew = mutation rate
p0 = initial frequency of wild type allele
pn = frequency of wild type allele after n generations.