54 Questions
What term is used to describe a trait that enhances the fitness of an organism in its environment?
Adaptation
Which factor limits the effects of selection and drift on a population's genetic variation?
Existing genetic variation
In genetics, what leads to the creation of new alleles that help animals survive?
New mutations
Which scenario is most likely to lead to the bottleneck effect?
Dramatic reduction in population size
What type of allele becomes the only version of a gene present in a population?
Fixed allele
Which of the following is true about abundant environments and genetic drift?
Most impactful for neutral alleles
Why are adaptations specific to the environment they originally arose in?
Because new alleles only arise via new mutations occurring at random
Which scenario is most likely to lead to genetic drift?
A small population with limited genetic variation
What is the impact of having many fixed alleles in a population?
It decreases the population's ability to adapt to changing conditions
How does the bottleneck effect impact genetic variation in a population?
It decreases genetic variation due to a dramatic reduction in population size
Which factor contributes significantly to the founder effect?
Migration of a small group from a larger population
What type of alleles are most impacted by genetic drift?
Neutral alleles
How does the founder effect differ from the bottleneck effect?
The founder effect involves a small group establishing a new population, while the bottleneck effect causes random changes in allele frequency.
Why are populations with many fixed alleles less able to adapt to changing conditions?
Because fixed alleles can lead to a loss of genetic variation needed for adaptation.
In which scenario is genetic drift most likely to have a significant impact on allele frequencies?
In a population that has undergone a dramatic reduction in size.
How do new alleles typically arise in a population?
Through new mutations occurring at random.
What is the primary limitation on the effects of selection and drift on genetic variation within populations?
The existing genetic variation present in the population.
Which factor plays a crucial role in determining the susceptibility of populations to extinction?
The number of fixed alleles in the population.
What is the main consequence of the bottleneck effect on the genetic variation of a population?
Fixed alleles
In which type of environment is genetic drift most impactful according to the text?
Isolated environments
How does the Founder Effect differ from the Bottleneck Effect in terms of genetic variation?
Founder Effect leads to fixed alleles, while Bottleneck Effect does not.
Why are populations with many fixed alleles less able to adapt to changing conditions?
Fixed alleles limit the pool of genetic variation for adaptation
What is the primary source of new alleles that help animals survive in a population?
New mutations
In genetics, what characteristic makes an adaptation advantageous for an organism in its environment?
Fitness enhancement
If a population experiences a severe reduction in size due to a catastrophic event, how would this impact the genetic variation within the population?
It would decrease the genetic variation, as some alleles may be lost due to the bottleneck effect.
If a small group of individuals from a larger population becomes isolated and establishes a new population, what is the most likely consequence of this founder effect?
The new population will have reduced genetic variation, as it represents a subset of the alleles present in the parent population.
If a population has a high proportion of fixed alleles, what would be the most likely consequence for the population's ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions?
The population would be less able to adapt, as fixed alleles limit the genetic variation available for adaptation.
In a large population with abundant resources, what would be the most likely impact of genetic drift on allele frequencies?
Genetic drift would have minimal impact on allele frequencies, as selection would be the dominant force shaping allele frequencies.
According to the information provided, which of the following statements is true regarding the origin of new alleles that can help organisms survive in their environment?
New alleles arise through random mutations, which may or may not be beneficial to the organism.
If a population experiences a severe bottleneck event, what would be the most likely consequence for the population's ability to adapt to future environmental changes?
The population's ability to adapt would be reduced due to the loss of genetic variation caused by the bottleneck event.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between adaptations and environments?
Adaptations are specific to the environments in which they originally arose and may not be advantageous if the environment changes.
What is the primary mechanism by which new alleles that can potentially enhance survival arise in a population?
New alleles arise through random mutations and are independent of environmental conditions.
In a population with a high proportion of fixed alleles, which of the following is the most likely consequence?
The population will be less able to adapt to changing conditions and more likely to go extinct.
Which of the following scenarios is most likely to result in the bottleneck effect?
A large population experiences a dramatic reduction in population size due to a catastrophic event.
According to the information provided, which of the following statements is true regarding the impact of genetic drift on allele frequencies?
Genetic drift is most impactful on allele frequencies in small populations or populations with limited resources.
If a population experiences a severe reduction in size due to a catastrophic event, what is the most likely consequence for the population's ability to adapt to future environmental changes?
The population's ability to adapt will be reduced due to the loss of genetic variation.
If a population experiences a severe bottleneck event followed by a period of rapid expansion, what is the most likely consequence for the population's genetic diversity?
The population will have reduced genetic diversity due to the bottleneck effect.
In a population with a high proportion of fixed alleles, what is the most likely consequence if a new, advantageous allele arises through mutation?
The new allele will have difficulty spreading due to the lack of existing genetic variation.
If a small population experiences genetic drift that results in the fixation of a deleterious allele, what is the most likely long-term consequence for the population?
The population will experience reduced fitness and an increased risk of extinction.
In a large, randomly mating population with abundant resources, what is the most likely impact of genetic drift on allele frequencies over many generations?
Genetic drift will have a minimal impact on allele frequencies.
If a population experiences a severe bottleneck event followed by a period of rapid expansion, what is the most likely consequence for the population's ability to adapt to future environmental changes?
The population will have a reduced capacity to adapt due to the bottleneck effect.
In a population with a high proportion of fixed alleles, what is the most likely consequence if a new, deleterious allele arises through mutation?
The new allele will have difficulty spreading due to the lack of existing genetic variation.
In genetics, what process can lead to the creation of new alleles that help animals survive?
Mutation
Which type of allele becomes the only version of a gene present in a population?
Fixed allele
What is the most likely consequence for a population with many fixed alleles in terms of its ability to adapt to changing conditions?
Higher extinction risk
Which factor plays a crucial role in determining the susceptibility of populations to extinction?
Fixed alleles
How do abundant environments impact the process of genetic drift?
Amplify its effects
Which scenario is most likely to result in the bottleneck effect?
Dramatic reduction in population size
What is the primary mechanism for the creation of new alleles in a population?
Mutations
In genetics, what characteristic makes an adaptation advantageous for an organism in its environment?
Trait that enhances fitness
Which scenario is most likely to result in the bottleneck effect?
Dramatic reduction in population size
What type of alleles are most impacted by genetic drift?
Neutral alleles
How do abundant environments impact the process of genetic drift?
Make genetic drift less impactful
Which factor plays a crucial role in determining the susceptibility of populations to extinction?
Presence of fixed alleles
Learn about how selection leads to adaptation, where traits enhance the fitness of organisms in their environment. Discover how adaptations are specific to their original environment and the limitations of genetic variation in a population. Explore how selection and drift act on existing genetic variation.
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