The nature of biological variation, lecture 6 Flashcards
Macroevolution
Evolutionary change, over long periods of time, on a large scale.
Example of macroevolution
eg: the origin of new taxonomic groups
Microevolution
Basis of natural selection, whereby a population progressively adapts to its environment.
Change at or below species level
Example of microevolution
Change at/below species level, eg in a species
Advantages of asexual reproduction
3
- In the stable environment
- The best genotype is reproduced
- Uses less energy/quicker
Asexual reproduction
Occurs by mitosis and daughter cells are identical to the parent cells - they’re clones
Asexual reproduction,
extent of genetic variation
Little genetic variation occurs
Mitosis
Cell division that results in 2 daughter cells with the same number/kind of chromosomes as the parent cell
Four types of mitosis
- binary fission
- budding
- parthenogenesis
- vegetative reproduction and fragmentation
Binary fission
1 cell divides into 2 cells of similar/same size, both have same genetic material
Budding
New individuals split off from parent cell, both have the same genetic materal, bud cell = smaller
Parthenogenesis
Development of unfertilised egg, no genetic input from males, obligate in some species, facultive in others
Facultive meaning
optional
Obligate meaning
Only option/compulsory
Two types of vegetative reproduction
Chromosomes
‘gene carrying’ structure found in the nucleus