Variation and Evolution Flashcards
Why do organisms differ in their phenotype?
Different genotypes.
Same genotype different epigenetic modification Different environments.
What is continuous variation?
It is controlled by a number of genes. Character shows a gradation from one extreme to another.
Give examples of continuous variation
Human height, number of leaves, eye colour and body mass.
What is discontinuous variation?
It’s controlled by a single gene with characters having a clear cut.
Give examples of discontinuous variation
Number fingers, sex, tongue rolling ability, mammary glands
What is heritable variation?
Results from genetic changes due to sexual reproduction,
When can heritable variation occur?
Mixing two different parental genotypes and cross fertilisation random assortment of homologous chromosomes in metaphase I.
Crossing over between homologous chromosomes during prophase I.
Random assortment of chromatids and metaphase II.
What do genetic changes do?
They establish new allele combinations only mutations generate novel and lasting variations.
What is non-heritable variation?
Environmental influences that determine phenotypic variation (not inherited)
Give examples of non inheritable variation?
Diet, exercise
Light, temp, availability of inorganic ions.
Give examples of interactions between genotype and environment
Himalayan rabbit ears: if skin tempo falls below 25 degrees genes will produce melanin pigment, the body extremities turn on.
Hydrangae flower colour: acidic soils cause blue flowers, aluminium is more soluble at acidic pH and binds to anthocyanin pigments turning them blue.
What limits a population?
Competition human and environmental factors play selective pressures on survival of different phenotypes and hence breeding success.
What is interspecific competition?
Competition between individuals of DIFFERENT species i.e. predator prey relationships.
What is intraspecific competition?
Competition between individuals of the SAME species basis of the origin of species by natural selection.
What is a gene pool?
All the alleles, of all the genes, of all the individuals within a population at one time.
What is allele frequency?
A measure of the relative frequency of an allele on a locus of a population.
What happens to the gene pool if the environment changes?
Some phenotypes are more advantageous and will be selected for whilst others will be disadvantaged and selected against. Overtime the gene pool changes with some of their alleles being more frequent than others.
What does selection pressure affect?
The allele frequency within a gene pool
What is selection?
It is the process at which better adapted organisms are able to survive and reproduce with less adapted organisms unable to do so.
The better adapted the organism the more likely they are to pass on their characteristics to succeeding generations.
What happens to the gene pool if the environment stays remain stable?
The gene pool remains stable