Evolution

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

the change in inherited characteristics of a group of organisms over time, occurs due to changes in the freq of different alleles within a population

Question 2

What is population genetics?

Answer 2

• investigates how allele frequencies within populations change over time

Question 3

What is the gene pool?

Answer 3

• the sum total of all the genes in a population at any given time
• includes million of genes

Question 4

What is allele frequency?

Answer 4

the relative frequency of a particular allele in a population

Question 5

What is the equation of allele frequency?

Answer 5

p + q = 1

p = frequency of dominant allele

q = frequency of recessive allele

only two potential alleles

Question 6

What is the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

Answer 6

• models the mathematical relationship between the freq of alleles and genotypes in a thoeretical population that is stable and evolving

Question 7

What does the HArdy-Weinberg principle state?

Answer 7

• in a stable population with no disturbing factors, the allele frequencies will remain constant from one generation to the next and there will be no evolution

Question 8

What is the Hardy-Weinberg principle expressed as?

Answer 8

p² + 2pq + q² = 1

where:

• p² = frequency of homozygous dominant genotype in the population
• 2pq = frequency of heterozygous genotype in the population
• q² = frequency of homozygous recessive genotype in the population

Question 9

What does the Hardy-Weinberg principle assume?

Answer 9

• assumes a theoretical breeding population of diploid organism that is:
  
  • large
  • isolated
  • random mating
  • no mutation
  • no selection pressure of any type
• in reality species are constantly changing