Unit 7 - Natural Selection Flashcards
adaptation
inherited characteristics (phenotypes) that enhance survival and reproduction
evolution
characterized by a change in the genetic makeup of a population over time
darwins argument: variation
- variation exists in populations; variation is an inherited trait.
- inference: individuals that are beter adapted to their environment will survive and reproduce
darwins argument: more than survive
- more individuals are born than can survive
- inference: unequal ability for individuals to survive leads to favorable phenotypes to increase in frequency over generations
fitness
- measure of a traits survival and reproduction
- HIGH FITNESS: survive and reproduce
what happens if the environment changes?
natural selection
natural selection
traits that are better adapted (higher fitness) will be able to continue through a population
- amplify traits
natural selection results from
- predators
- lack of food
- adverse physical conditions (temp, pollution)
- gradual changes accumulate and less favorable will diminish
ex: the peppered moth
in the 1850’s, soot covered many trees in England; therefore, peppered moths phenotype frequency decreased as it didnt blend in with surroundings
can an individual choose to change its phenotype to suit its environment?
no, this happens overtime
can an organism just adapt by mutating?
no
does the environment cause a mutation to occur?
no
what happens if a population lacks genetic variation (therefore no phenotypic variation) and the environment changes
possible extinction
what happens if a mutation arises in an offspring that results in an adaptation (an inherited characteristic) that increases the chance of surviving and reproducing?
the trait will be passed onto future populations
ecological niche
an organisms role in its ecosystem
ex: bees polinate
3 outcomes of natural selection
- stabalizing selection
- directional selection
- diversifying selection
stabalizing selection
- selection towards the median
directional selection
- a shift
diversifying/disruptive selection
- moving to extremes
artificial selection
- humans select for desirable traits in future populations
ex: dog phenotypes
natural selection
- nature selects for the adapative trait
- competition is our selective pressure
positive selective pressure
- trait is selected for??
ex: antibiotic resistance
negative selective pressure
- genetic disease????
- protein malfunctions
- reduces the occurence of disadvantaegous traits
what do natural and artificial selection have in common?
changing phenotypes over time