Unit 1 Flashcards
What is Natural selection
The process that changes allele frequencies when certain heritable traits are assisted with different levels of reproductive success
What is Evolution?
The process by which living organisms change over time through changes in their genome
What is Directional Selection
Natural Selection that favours specific phenotype that causes change in one direction away from the average.
What is Stabilizing selection
A form of natural selection wherein individuals with average phenotype are more fit.
What is Adaptation
A heritable trait that increases fitness in a particular environment.
What is fitness
How good a particular genotype is at leaving offspring in the next generation relative to other genotypes
Diversifying Selection
When two extreme traits are favoured over the average trait. Causing a split in the middle of the graph.
Genetic Drift
Any change that occurs in allele frequencies that is due to change.
Founders Event
When a small population migrates to a new environment and created a completely new population. This can cause Genetic Drift
Genetic Bottlenecks
Can cause a genetic drift due to rapid decrease of population caused by a catastrophic event.
Gene flow
An evolutionary processes that changes allele frequencies through breeding between two populations.
Maladaptive traits
Lead to low fitness
Anthropocene
Refers to describe the most recent period in Earth’s history where environments and species are undergoing massive change due to human activities
Inbreeding Depression
Refers to reduced fitness due to inbreeding.
Extinction Vortex
A downward population spiral in which inbreeding and genetic drift combine to cause a small population to shrink and unless the spiral is reversed become extinct.
