Natural Selection
What is overproduction of offspring?
Overproduction of offspring occurs when a species produces more offspring than can survive to adulthood, leading to competition for resources
What is genetic drift?
Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that involves random changes in allele frequencies within a population, often having a more significant effect in small populations
What is a mutation?
A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to new traits in an organism
What is an adaptation?
An adaptation is a characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.
What are the key components of natural selection?
The key components are overproduction of offspring, inherited variation, struggle for existence, and differential reproductive success
What is inherited variation?
Inherited variation refers to the genetic differences among individuals in a population that are passed from parents to offspring
What is gene flow?
Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new alleles and increase genetic diversity
What is genetic recombination?
Genetic recombination is the process during sexual reproduction where genetic material from two parents is mixed to create offspring with unique combinations of traits.
Provide an example of an adaptation in animals.
The long neck of a giraffe is an adaptation that allows it to reach higher leaves for food.
Describe the role of environment in natural selection.
The environment determines which traits are advantageous, influencing which individuals survive and reproduce.
What is the struggle to survive?
The struggle to survive is the competition among individuals for limited resources such as food, shelter, and mates
Give an example of genetic drift in a population.
An example of genetic drift is the founder effect, where a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to reduced genetic variation
How does mutation increase genetic variation?
Mutations introduce new alleles into a population, increasing the genetic diversity and potential for adaptation.
How do adaptations affect survival rates?
Adaptations can improve an organism's chances of survival and reproduction, allowing it to thrive in its environment.
What are the consequences of limited genetic variation?
Limited genetic variation can reduce a population's ability to adapt to environmental changes, making it more susceptible to extinction.
What is differential reproductive success?
Differential reproductive success occurs when individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation.
How can gene flow impact a species?
Gene flow can increase genetic diversity and help populations adapt to changing environments, but it can also introduce harmful alleles.
Explain the role of genetic recombination in evolution.
Genetic recombination creates new combinations of genes, providing raw material for natural selection to act upon, which can lead to evolutionary change
What is the relationship between adaptations and natural selection?
Natural selection favors individuals with adaptations that enhance survival and reproduction, leading to a higher frequency of those traits in the population over time
Explain how both natural selection and genetic drift can lead to evolution.
Both processes can change allele frequencies within a population, leading to evolutionary changes over time, albeit through different mechanisms
Explain how natural selection leads to evolution.
Natural selection leads to evolution by favoring individuals with traits that enhance survival and reproduction, resulting in changes in the population's genetic makeup over time.
Compare genetic drift and natural selection
Genetic drift is a random process that can lead to changes in allele frequencies, while natural selection is a non-random process that favors advantageous traits
Why is genetic variation important for a population?
Genetic variation is crucial for a population's ability to adapt to environmental changes and resist diseases.
Discuss how environmental changes can lead to new adaptations.
Environmental changes can create new challenges, prompting species to develop new adaptations to survive, ultimately influencing their evolution
Summarize the mechanisms of evolutionary change
The main mechanisms are natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, mutations, and genetic recombination, each contributing to the evolution of species.