Evolution Foundations
What is the specific biological definition of evolution?
Change in allele frequencies over time
What is the term for an inherited trait that increases survival and reproduction?
Adaptation
Who or what acts as the "selecting agent" in artificial selection?
Humans
What process involves the movement of alleles into or out of a population via migration?
Gene flow
Which type of selection involves males fighting one another for access to mates?
Intrasexual selection
Evolution acts on this group of individuals, rather than on a single organism.
The Population
In a snowy environment, why would a white rabbit have higher "fitness" than a brown rabbit?
It would more easily avoid predation, survive, and reproduce
Give an example of a common household pet modified through artificial selection.
Many possible answers: friendliness, "cuteness", fur color, etc
Genetic drift causes changes in a population's genes based on this factor, not fitness.
Random chance
Which type of selection involves males fighting one another for access to mates?
Intersexual Selection
This term refers to the total collection of all alleles present in a population.
Gene pool
Natural selection can only occur if there are genetic differences in a population, known as this.
Variation
What is the primary reason humans use artificial selection in crops like corn?
To improve taste, size, yield, etc
This type of drift happens when a small group leaves to start a new colony elsewhere.
Founder effect
Why does a trait that attracts predators (like bright colors) still evolve?
The benefit of reproducing outweighs the risk of being eaten.
This is the ultimate source of all new genetic variation; a random DNA change.
Mutation
If a predator only eats the slowest individuals in a population, what will happen to the average speed of the next generation?
It will increase
What is a major genetic disadvantage of artificial selection in purebred animals?
Lack of genetic diversity means that health issues are more likely to show up in a population.
What is it called when a disaster kills most of a population, leaving few survivors?
Bottleneck Event/Bottleneck Effect
Provide an example of a "secondary sexual characteristic"/adaptation used in male competition.
Horns, antlers, etc
What is the term for a population where allele frequencies are NOT changing?
Genetic equilibrium
In the context of natural selection, how is "fitness" specifically measured?
Survival and reproductive success
If two populations have high gene flow, do they become more similar or more different?
More genetically similar
If two populations have high gene flow, do they become more similar or more different?
More similar
This term describes physical differences in appearance between males and females.
Sexual Dimorphism