unit 4 aos 2 Flashcards
gene pool
the total genetic diversity (alleles) in a population
> greater genetic diversity = larger gene pool
genetic diversity
- the variation in alleles in a population
- occurs due to sexual reproduction through independent assortment and genetic recombination
allele frequency
- allele = alternative form of a gene
- calculated by counting all the specific alleles and dividing by total number of alleles
mutations
- random, unpredictable change to the DNA of an organism
- source of new alleles, causing diversity in the same species
- can be spontaneous or induced
causes of changing allele frequencies
- environmental selection pressures (natural selection)
- genetic drift
- gene flow
- mutations
gene flow
- movement of alleles from one population to another, due to individuals entering or leaving a population. Results in changes in the allele frequency of a gene pool and therefore the genetic diversity
genetic drift
a change in the allele frequency of a population due to random chance events
two types:
- bottleneck effect
- founder effect
bottleneck effect
- change in allele frequency due to a cataclysmic event, causing a sudden drop in population (near extinction)
> natural disasters, disease, human intervention
causes populations to undergo new selection pressures - population then grows in numbers again, but allele frequency has changed as only few individuals survived, lowering genetic diversity
> larger impact on smaller populations
founder effect
small group of individuals/ alleles is isolated from a larger population, causing them to undergo new selection pressures and form a new species
> larger impact on smaller populations
environmental selection pressures
- environmental factors that affects the survival and reproduction of an organism
- only organisms with favourable characteristics will survive, leading to low genetic diversity or the creation of a new species
natural selection
- the influence of environmental pressures on allele frequency. organisms that have more favourable characteristics and are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce
adaptations
allow organisms to survive & reproduce within a changing environment
- structural: physical, eg. anteaters long tongue
- physiological: involves the function of organs/ systems that affect its biological fitness, eg. chameleon changing colours
- behavioural: affect how an organism behaves in itss enviro, allows it to thrive in its ecosystem, eg. male birds sing to attract females
consequences of changing allele frequencies
- mutations can introduce new alleles to a population & increase genetic diversity
- loss of alleles can lead to a decline in genetic diversity and possibly the creation of a new species
selective breeding/ artificial selection
- humans select organisms to breed which carry what we deem to be desirable traits
- causes a change in the allele frequency of the population in order to produce individuals suited to human use
- decreases genetic diversity in a population by eliminating undesirable alleles from the gene pool
- low genetic diversity can make populations susceptible to disease
> selective breeding has increased dairy cows milk yield of 3750L per cow per year, to 7445L per
steps of selective breeding
- select desired trait
- breed 2 organisms with desired trait
- select best offspring
- repeat for many generations
> takes a long period of time
antigenic drift
an accumulation of mutations over time which results in changes to the antigens on the virus’ surface
antigenic shift
an abrupt change in the genome of the virus due to swapping genetic material while in the host cell
> requires 2 viruses at once
antibiotic resistance
random mutations can occur to bacteria which give them the innate ability to tolerate an antibiotic
> these may not be killed by antibiotics, and can then reproduce, and horizontal gene transfer can occur, giving plasmids to other bacteria & creating a population of bacteria that all have resistance
> natural selection resulting in antibiotic resistant bacteria
treating against pathogens
- vaccinations can give immunity, but can be made redundant if viruses mutate
- antibiotics treat against bacteria, it is important to take the full course as some bacteria have mutated to be antibiotic resistant, and can survive & reproduce if full course of antibiotics isnt taken
the fossil record
evidence of evolution, shows how organisms change from simple to complex over time
fossil
preserved, hardened remains or traces of organisms within sedimentary rock
types of fossils
- impression fossil/ mold: shape of the organism left on the rock after it has decayed
- mineralised fossil/ petrified: minerals replace the material of the organism
- trace fossil: record of the organisms activities, eg. footprints, burrows
- mummified fossil: preserved in something other than rock, reduces decay
index fossils
- abundant, distinctive fossils used as reference to determine the age of unknown fossils, have existed for a short period of time & have a known age
- when these same fossils are found in other sedimentary layers, they can be used to date those layers
> eg. trilobites, arthropods
transitional fossils
fossil has both primitive and derived trait, provide evidence that an ancestral species evolved
> divergent evolution
> eg. lobe finned fish transitioned from fish to amphibian