3.4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation

Question 1

What is natural selection?

Answer 1

• Mutations lead to variation in a species by developing a new allele.

• This new allele provides an advantage e.g give an example from the question.

• Organisms with the new allele can survive and reproduce.

• Advantageous allele is passed onto offspring.

• The advantageous allele increases in frequency.

Question 2

What is selection pressure?

Answer 2

An environmental force which can change the frequency of alleles in a population (e.g new predators, diet changes, temperature changes).