Mechanisms of Evolution Overview

Questions and Answers

What are the five mechanisms of evolution?

Natural Selection, genetic drift, gene flow, mutations, and non random mating.

Observation #1 states that:

Members of a population often vary greatly in their traits.

Observation #2 states that:

Traits are inherited from parents to offspring.

Observation #3 states that:

All species are capable of producing more offspring than the environment can support. Signup and view all the answers

Observation #4 states that:

Previous factors obligate organisms to struggle to survive. Signup and view all the answers

If variation is inherited, and overproduction occurs, then what does that mean for existence?

It is a struggle for existence. Signup and view all the answers

What is Darwinian fitness?

Contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of the next generation relative to the contributions of other individuals. Signup and view all the answers

Population evolves, not individuals.

True Signup and view all the answers

Natural selection is random.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is genetic drift?

A change in the gene pool of a small population due to chance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the bottleneck effect?

Results from a drastic reduction in population size. Bottlenecking reduces genetic variation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the founder effect?

When one has one or more extra fingers or toes. Signup and view all the answers

What is gene flow?

Genetic exchange with another population. It tends to reduce genetic differences between populations. Signup and view all the answers

What are mutations?

Changes in an organism's DNA. Acting alone, it doesn't have much of an effect on a large population but can have significant cumulative effects. Signup and view all the answers

What is non-random mating?

One who has more opportunity to mate than others, thus producing more offspring and more copies of their genes. Signup and view all the answers

What are deterministic vs. stochastic processes?

Stochastic processes involve random components such as mutation, genetic drift, and gene flow. Deterministic components include natural selection and non-random mating. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mechanisms of Evolution

Five mechanisms of evolution: natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, mutations, and non-random mating.

Key Observations of Evolution

Variation in traits is common among members of a population.
Traits are inherited from parents to their offspring.
Species tend to produce more offspring than the environment can sustain.
Organisms face competition for survival due to limited resources.

Struggle for Existence

Inherited variation and overproduction lead to a struggle for existence among organisms.

Darwinian Fitness

Darwinian fitness measures an individual's contribution to the next generation's gene pool relative to others.

Population Evolution

Evolution occurs at the population level, not at the individual level.

Natural Selection

Natural selection is a non-random process, contrasting with the concept of randomness.

Genetic Drift

Refers to changes in the gene pool of small populations due to random events.

Bottleneck Effect

A significant reduction in population size that decreases genetic variation within the population.

Founder Effect

Occurs when a few individuals establish a new population, potentially leading to limited genetic diversity.

Gene Flow

Involves genetic exchange between populations, generally decreasing genetic differences.

Mutations

Mutations are changes in an organism's DNA that can accumulate over time and impact populations significantly.

Non-Random Mating

Refers to individuals with more mating opportunities producing more offspring, enhancing the propagation of certain genes.

Deterministic vs. Stochastic Processes

Stochastic processes involve random elements: mutation, genetic drift, and gene flow.
Deterministic processes include natural selection, sexual selection, and non-random mating.

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Description

Explore the five key mechanisms of evolution, including natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. Understand the principles of variation, inheritance, and competition that drive evolution within populations. Delve into the concepts of Darwinian fitness and the struggle for existence among organisms.