What is microevolution?
Change occurring over a short period of time
Microevolution involves small-scale changes within a species.
List the factors of microevolution.
- Natural selection
- Gene flow
- Sexual selection
- Genetic drift
- Recombination
- Mutations
These factors contribute to the evolutionary changes in populations.
Define mutations.
Change in gene instruction, diversity
Mutations are essential for introducing new genetic variations.
What is gene flow?
Gain or loss of alleles due to immigration
Gene flow can introduce new genetic material into a population.
Define genetic drift.
Random evolutionary changes in a population
Genetic drift can lead to significant changes in small populations.
What is natural selection?
Heritable traits change based on survival & reproduction
Natural selection is a key mechanism of evolution.
What does non-random mating refer to?
Sexual recombination
Non-random mating can affect allele frequencies in a population.
Define genotype.
Combination of alleles (AA, Aa, aa)
Genotype determines the genetic makeup of an individual.
What is the difference between homozygous and heterozygous?
- Homozygous: same alleles (AA)
- Heterozygous: different alleles (Aa)
These terms describe the genetic composition of an individual.
What is a gene pool?
Total collection of all genes and their different alleles in a population
The gene pool is crucial for understanding genetic diversity.
How is genotype frequency calculated?
individuals with genotype / total # of individuals
This calculation helps in understanding the genetic structure of a population.
How is allele frequency calculated?
of one allele / # of total alleles
Allele frequency is important for studying population genetics.
What does the equation p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1 represent?
The Hardy-Weinberg principle for genotype frequencies
This principle states that allele and genotype frequencies should remain constant if the population is not changing.
What influences how animals adapt to their environment?
Colours and patterns
Adaptations can be influenced by various genetic factors and environmental pressures.
What gene controls coat colour in mice and other mammals?
Agouti gene
This gene plays a significant role in pigmentation.
What gene affects wing pattern in Heliconius butterflies?
Cortex gene
This gene is involved in the development of wing patterns.
What role does the yellow gene play in Drosophila?
Pigmentation
The yellow gene influences the coloration of fruit flies.
What is the shell pigmentation in Cepaea nemoralis not fully understood?
Ground colour and banding patterns
Variations in shell pigmentation can be influenced by environmental factors.
What factors are related to banding patterns in snails?
- Habitat
- Predators
- Background
These factors influence the survival and reproduction of snails.
True or false: Random genetic drift can lead to different selection pressures in different areas.
TRUE
Random genetic drift can affect allele frequencies and adaptations in populations.
