Lecture 5

Question 1

Myths: Evolution is Goal Oriented

Answer 1

evolution by natural selection is not goal oriented, adaptations don’t occur because organisms want or need it

Question 2

Myths: Evolution produces a hierarchy of life

Answer 2

no organism is higher than another, everything evolved from a common ancestor

Question 3

Myths of Evolution

Answer 3

• goal oriented
• produces a hierarchy
• does not inevitably increase complexity
• animal behaviour is selfless and for the good of the species
• natural selection results in the most optimal phenotype

Question 4

Fitness Trade-offs

Answer 4

compromise between traits in terms of how those traits are adapted for the environment

Question 5

Examples of trade offs

Answer 5

• peacock tails

- sickle cell anemia

Question 6

Genetic Correlation

Answer 6

changing one feature often affects multiple features

Question 7

Historic Constraints

Answer 7

species evolve from ancestors

Question 8

Formal Constraints

Answer 8

law of physics

Question 9

Temporal Constraints

Answer 9

mutation is slow and often the mutations don’t have an effect

Question 10

Four factors that influence allele frequencies

Answer 10

1. Natural Selection
2. Genetic Drift: cause allele frequencies to change randomly
3. Gene Flow: alleles coming into a population
4. Mutation: introduces new alleles

Question 11

Hardy Weinburg Principle

Answer 11

developed a mathematical model to analyze allele frequencies of individuals in a population