POPULATIONS & GENES
What is a population?
A group of the same species living in the same area.
What makes individuals of the same species different?
Their genes and environment.
Why is genetic variation important to a population?
It gives populations different traits that may help them adapt to environmental changes.
What is gene flow?
The movement of alleles between populations.
What traditional crop in American Samoa was affected by taro leaf blight in 1993?
Talo (taro).
What is a gene pool?
All the alleles in a population.
What is a mutation?
A change in DNA that can create a new allele.
What is genetic drift?
A random change in allele frequencies.
How can migrants affect a population's gene pool?
They can bring new alleles into the population.
What disease affected traditional taro varieties in Samoa and American Samoa?
Taro leaf blight.
What is an allele?
One version of a gene
What process mixes alleles into new combinations in offspring?
Sexual reproduction.
Is genetic drift caused by natural selection or chance?
Chance
What does Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium describe?
A population whose allele frequencies remain constant, meaning it is not evolving.
What local institution's program works on breeding taro varieties?
ASCC-ACNR Land Grant.
What does allele frequency mean?
How common an allele is in a population.
Can genetic variation be visible or hidden?
Yes. Some differences are visible, while others are hidden in DNA.
In what type of population is genetic drift strongest?
Small populations.
Name one condition needed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
No mutation, no migration, no natural selection, random mating, or a large population.
What is the Samoan national bird mentioned in the presentation?
The manumea, also known as the tooth-billed pigeon.
If 12 out of 20 alleles are A, what is the frequency of A?
60% (12 ÷ 20 × 100).
Why is genetic variation important to a population?
It gives populations different traits that may help them adapt to environmental changes.
What happens during a bottleneck effect?
A population suddenly becomes much smaller, leaving only some of its genetic variation.
If p = 0.6 and q = 0.4, what is the frequency of Aa using 2pq?
0.48 or 48%.
Why is low genetic diversity a concern for the manumea?
It can make adapting to environmental changes and surviving disease more difficult.