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Questions and Answers
How does gene flow impact the genetic makeup of a population?
How does gene flow impact the genetic makeup of a population?
Gene flow introduces new alleles into a population's gene pool, which can increase genetic diversity and potentially alter traits within the population.
What role do mutations play in biological evolution?
What role do mutations play in biological evolution?
Mutations can create new traits in a population, which may be beneficial, harmful, or neutral, thus providing raw material for natural selection to act upon.
Explain how genetic drift affects small populations differently than larger populations.
Explain how genetic drift affects small populations differently than larger populations.
Genetic drift can lead to significant changes in small populations due to random events, resulting in loss of genetic variation and possible fixation of harmful alleles.
What is the significance of homologous structures in understanding evolution?
What is the significance of homologous structures in understanding evolution?
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Describe how natural selection contributes to the concept of 'survival of the fittest.'
Describe how natural selection contributes to the concept of 'survival of the fittest.'
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Study Notes
Biological Evolution
- Biological evolution is the change in a population's inherited traits over generations.
- A population is a group of organisms of the same species. Populations can have variations in traits.
- Traits are coded by genes. Variations in genes lead to variations within a population.
- Changes in genes in a population can affect evolution.
Gene Flow
- Gene flow is the movement of genes between populations.
- Gene flow can occur through migration.
- Migration impacts the genetic makeup of a population.
Mutation
- Mutation is a way of changing the genetic material of a population.
- Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or neutral.
Genetic Drift
- Genetic drift is a change in the genetic makeup of a population due to random events.
- Random events can impact the gene pool of a remaining population, not representing the original population. This leads to changes in the genetic makeup.
Natural Selection
- Natural selection is when populations adapted to their environment are more likely to survive.
- Organisms that survive pass on genes contributing to successful adaptations.
- Organisms that struggle have reduced reproductive options impacting the population's overall fitness. High biological fitness is associated with greater survival and reproductive success.
Evolutionary Evidence
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Homology is similarity due to a common ancestor.
- Molecular evidence and anatomical structures support the relatedness of certain animals by similarity in DNA or similar arrangements of body structures stemming from a common ancestor.
- Homologous structures have the same basic arrangement and components, even if their functions differ.
- Similar structure does not always mean species are related (e.g., bird wings and butterfly wings, which serve the same function but are evolved differently).
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Description
Explore the key concepts of biological evolution, including gene flow, mutation, genetic drift, and natural selection. This quiz will help you understand how these mechanisms influence the genetic diversity within populations over time.
