'31 Mechanisms of evolution

and speciation

Q&A

Explain the mechanism of evolution.

解釋進化的機制。
Evolution is due to the combined effect of variation and natural selection.

進化是由變異及天擇的混合效應所造成。
There is always variation among individuals in a population.

種群內的個體常存變異。
Some favourable variations make an individual more likely to survive
and reproduce than other

individuals.

有利的變異可增加個體的⽣存及繁殖下⼀代的機會。
The environment exerts a weeding-out effect, so that the poorly adapted
organisms perish before they

reach sexual maturity.

環境的汰弱淘強效應使不能適應的⽣物未達⽣育年齡便消失。
Those variant traits that enhance survival will be found in an increasing
succeeding generation.

那些有利⽣存的特徵會在下⼀代越來越多。
'31 Mechanisms of evolution and speciation 1
 Over many generations, the action of natural selection leads to the
evolution of new species.

經過許多世代後，⾃然選擇的作⽤導致物種進化。
Explain the role of variation in evolution
解釋變異在進化上的功能。
Genetic variation ensures that all populations contain a range of
phenotypes. Only some

phenotypes of each generation will be well enough adapted to survive in

the immediate

environment. These phenotypes will breed and pass on their genes to

the next generation. Less

well adapted phenotypes will not be able to survive the competition for
food and space, they will

not breed and their genes will be lost when they die. However, if there is
a change in the

environment there is a chance that some of the adaptations which were

ill-fitted to the first

environment will be advantageous in the new environment, and now

these phenotypes will survive

to breed and pass on their genes. The existence of variation increases

the chances of a species

surviving environmental change.

遺傳變異使每個種群內都存有⼀個範圍的表現型，只有某些後代的表現型
⾜夠良好以⽣存於
即時的環境中，這些表現型可互相交配，將它們的基因傳給下⼀代。
較劣的表現型在⾷物及居所的競爭中失敗，不能⽣存亦不能交配，它們的
基因隨著它們的死
亡⽽消失。但是若環境有所改變，某些先前是不良的基因可在新環境中變
得有利，這些表現
型現可⽣存及繁殖，將它的基因傳給下⼀代，故存有變異有利⼀個品種在
轉變中的環境⽣存。

'31 Mechanisms of evolution and speciation 2

 Explain the cause of variation.
解釋變異的成因。
(1) Due to sexual reproduction:

During sexual reproduction there can be innumerable combinations of

genes from the two

parents, resulting in a large number of variations among the offsprings.

When genes are

linked, crossing over can lead to new combinations of the genes, giving
new varieties in

the offsprings.

因為有性繁殖﹕
在有性繁殖，後代從每個⽗⺟各取⼀套染⾊體，因為染⾊體的獨⽴分配，
從⽗⺟處獲得
的基因可以有無數的組合，引致後代出現⼤量的變異。當基因是連鎖時，
互換可產⽣新
的基因組合，做成不同種類的後代。
(2) Due to mutation

因為突變﹕
What is meant by natural selection?
天擇是什麼意思﹖
It means that those organisms that are best adapted to their
environment are most successful

in reproducing offsprings.

它是進化的主要動⼒，意味著最能適應環境的⽣物是最能產⽣後代的。
Explain the process speciation.
解釋物種形成的過程。
Speciation is a process of forming new species from one or more
species. It occurs as a

result of barriers leading to reproductive isolation between members of

the population. This

'31 Mechanisms of evolution and speciation 3

 would stop gene flow between populations. Then, their gene pools can
change independently

through natural selection.

物種形成是從現有品種形成新品種的過程，這是因某些屏障⽽做成的種群
間⽣殖隔離，這會
阻⽌基因在種群間交流，基因庫便可透過天擇⽽獨⽴轉變。
Explain the isolation mechanism in speciation.
解釋物種形成時的隔離機制。
Isolation mechanisms can be defined as any factors that decrease the
amount of interbreeding between

groups of organisms. If they are isolated, they will evolve independently

so that after some time, they will

diverge from each other so much that they can no longer breed with
each other.

隔離機制可定義為任何可減少群體間交配的因素，若群體受到隔離，它們
會獨⾃進化，過了
某些時間後，群體間的歧異變得很⼤，以致它們不能再交配。
Give examples of isolation mechanisms.
說出隔離機制的各個例⼦。
Geographical isolation: eg. mountain ranges, rivers and oceans.

地理隔離﹕例如⼭脈、河流和海洋等。這些屏障阻⽌同⼀品種的種群會
⾯。
Reproductive isolation: Occasionally a mutation arises which makes the
individual possessing

it incapable of breeding with the companion.

⽣殖隔離﹕有時會有突變發⽣阻⽌帶有突變者和同類交配。
Behavioral isolation: Two species are prevented from interbreeding
because they have

different behaviour.

⾏為隔離﹕兩個品種因有不同的⾏為⽽被制⽌交配。

'31 Mechanisms of evolution and speciation 4

 Describe how evolutionary theory is supported by selective breeding.
解釋如何以動植物育種來顯⽰進化。
Man selected the animal or plant with qualities he desired to breed. This
acts as the natural

selection stated in evolutionary theory. As a result, genotype with

desired phenotypes can

survive while those not cannot. After a period of time, the gene pool of
the species change

⼈類作為農作物的選擇者，他會選擇他喜好的動植物品種來培植，這⾏為
與進化論所提及的
天擇相類似，結果能給出⼈類喜愛的表現型的基因可⽣存⽽不能的則淘
汰，過了⼀段時間
後，該品種的基因庫會改變。

'31 Mechanisms of evolution and speciation 5