Understanding Evolution: Genetic Drift, Natural Selection, and Fitness

Evolution

• Evolution is the term for genetic changes in a population over time
• Natural selection is the process involving a change in allele frequency due to interactions between heritable traits and environmental pressures
• Genetic drift is the term for a change in allele frequency due to random events in the environment
• Variation in heritable traits is a requirement for natural selection to occur
• Fitness refers to the reproductive success of an organism, which is directly related to evolution
• Reproductive success is the term for the number of offspring an individual produces
• Gene flow involves the movement of alleles between populations
• Genetic variation is the term for the variation in heritable traits of a population
• Natural selection acts on pre-existing variations through environmental pressures, while genetic drift occurs due to random events.
• Variation is a key requirement for natural selection to occur
• Genetic drift randomly changes allele frequencies, while gene flow introduces new alleles from other populations
• Fitness in the context of evolution refers to the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment
• Variation in heritable traits plays a crucial role in determining whether natural selection can occur within a population
• Evolution occurs because the next generation has a different genetic composition than the parents
• Variable survival and reproduction lead to a different allele frequency in the next generation
• Genetic variation is NOT a requirement for natural selection to occur
• Natural selection is a directional process driven by environmental pressures, while genetic drift is random
• Microevolution refers to genetic changes in a population over single generations
• Reproductive success is what fitness specifically relates to in evolution
• Genetic variation plays a crucial role in determining whether natural selection can lead to speciation over long periods of time
• Gene flow primarily involves the movement of alleles between populations
• Genetic drift and natural selection are both evolutionary processes, but genetic drift is random while natural selection is directed
• Fitness is the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce successfully
• Natural selection acts on traits that increase an organism's ability to survive and reproduce
• Genetic drift leads to a change in allele frequencies due to random events
• Genetic variation is essential for natural selection to occur within a population
• Microevolution is the main outcome of evolution over single generations
• Adaptation is the term for the change in allele frequency due to interactions between heritable traits and environmental pressures
• Genetic variation is a key factor that determines whether natural selection can occur within a population
• Gene flow in the context of evolution involves the movement of alleles between populations
• Natural selection is a directional process driven by environmental pressures, while genetic drift is random
• Genetic drift and natural selection are both evolutionary processes, but genetic drift is random while natural selection is directed
• Reproductive success is the term for the number of offspring an individual produces in evolution
• Variation, Inheritance, and Selection describe the three main steps in the process of evolution
• Genetic drift and natural selection are both evolutionary processes, but genetic drift is random while natural selection is directed
• Higher fitness is directly related to a higher number of offspring an individual produces
• Variation is NOT a requirement for natural selection to occur within a population
• Natural selection is a directional process driven by environmental pressures, while genetic drift is random
• Gene flow introduces new alleles into a population, increasing genetic variation
• Genetic variation provides the raw material for natural selection to act on

Learn about the three main steps in the process of evolution, how genetic drift and natural selection play a role, and the concepts of fitness, genetic variation, gene flow, and natural selection. Explore how genetic changes occur in populations over time.