Natural selection and evolution

Question 1

how are advantageous characteristics formed within individuals in a species

Answer 1

caused by mutations in the allele.

Question 2

what is a phenotype

Answer 2

observable characteristics

Question 3

what is a genotype

Answer 3

genetic composition of an organism

Question 4

what causes genetic variation

Answer 4

organisms of the same species have different DNA base sequences- causing genetic variation

Question 5

what is selection pressure

Answer 5

a pressure exerted by the environment to select organisms with specific advantageous phenotypes

Question 6

what does it mean if an organism is defines as having a higher fitness

Answer 6

it has the ability to survive and pass its alleles onto offspring.

Organisms with a higher fitness possess adaptations that make them better suited to their environment.

Question 7

what is a gene pool

Answer 7

the stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.

Question 8

To achieve all marks in a natural selection question. 6 points need to be made about the process of natural selection. What are the 6 points

Answer 8

1- mutation of alleles creates intraspecific/ genetic variation.

2- The environment initiates selection pressure- selects which characteristics give an advantage

3- individuals with the advantageous characteristic will survive and reproduce.

4- their offspring will inherit the advantageous alleles, increases allele frequency.

5- overtime speciation is achieved- (Speciation is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species)