10.

3 Gene Pools & Speciation (AHL)

Gene pools:

A gene pool is the sum of all g________ (alleles)

in a population at a given time. It is of the same
s_________ (a group of potentially
interbreeding populations), and reproductively
i______________ from other species. A gene
pool can change over t_________ through
evolution (e.g. mutation, natural selection,
genetic drift etc.)

Causes of changes in the allele frequency and gene pool composition:

New combinations of alleles lead to new phenotypes that can then be

selected for or against by the environment.

What is the consequence of this?

1|Page
Do some research and explain what genetic drift is:

How does genetic drift sometimes suddenly lead to the loss of an allele from a population?

Speciation:

Speciation is the formation of a new species by the splitting of an existing population. Various barriers can
isolate the gene pool of one population from that of the other. Speciation may occur when this happens.

• If the isolation occurs because of geographic

separation of populations (rivers, mountains,
desert etc. acting as natural barriers), then
the speciation is termed allopatric.

• If speciation occurs when gene pools are

isolated within the same geographic area,
then the process is termed sympatric
speciation. Sympatric speciation can be
behavioral, mechanical or temporal.

2|Page
1. Allopatric speciation: Geographic isolation

Geographic isolation s a form of reproductive

(allopatric) isolation in which populations are
separated physically by geographic barriers
such as rivers, mountains or stretches of water.

Why are these two squirrels an example for

allopatric speciation?

Why are the two populations on either side

of the geographical barrier not able to
interbreed anymore?

What causes the divergence?

2. Sympatric speciation: Temporal isolation

Temporal isolation of gene pools occurs in the same area (sympatric

isolation). It usually involves different flowering or mating seasons.

How is the spotted weasel an example for temporal isolation?

3|Page
3. Sympatric speciation: Behavioural isolation

a) The eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna) and

(b) western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) are
very similar in appearance. The red region in this
map shows where the two species' ranges overlap.

Why does practically no interspecies breeding

take place between these two species?

4|Page
Gradual and abrupt speciation:

Explain gradual speciation:

Explain abrupt speciation:

On the left side the gradualist model with slow change

over geological time is shown. On the right side the
punctuated equilibrium model depicting relatively rapid
changes over a short period of time followed by periods
of stability is shown.

What are examples of species that often show punctuated equilibrium?

Direction, stabilizing and disruptive selection:

Different types of natural selection exist:

Natural selection operates to change the

composition of gene pools, but the outcomes
of this vary depending on the type of
interactions between the effects of the
environment and the particular combination
of alleles.

5|Page
1. Stabilizing selection

Occurs where environmental conditions are largely unchanging. This does not lead to evolution, but it
maintains a favorable characteristic and the alleles responsible for it. Useless or harmful variants and
abnormalities are eliminated.

Explain how birth weights in babies are an example for stabilizing selection:

2. Directional selection:

Directional selection is a type of natural selection that favors one extreme phenotype over the mean or other
extreme. This phenomenon is usually seen in environments that have changed over time. Changes in weather,
climate, or food availability lead to directional selection, but also human interaction can speed up directional
selection.

Explain how human interaction can bring about directional selection:

6|Page
3. Disruptive selection:

In disruptive selection individuals from the center of a phenotype are removed because natural selection
favours both ends of the phenotypic variation. Over time, the two extreme variations will become more
common and the intermediate states will be less common or lost. As a result, it is likely that the gene pool will
eventually split into two distinct gene pools – new species can be formed.

Explain how the Coho salmon is an example for disruptive selection:

7|Page
8|Page
Speciation in the genus Allium by polyploidy

What is polyploidy?

Polyploidy can lead to reproductive isolation

of an individual in the polyploidy state. What
is reproductive isolation?

How is polyploidy caused?

The genus Allium shows polyploidy:

The genus Allium comprises of monocot flowering plant and includes the onion, garlic, chives, shallot, leek,
welsh onion. In many of these species chromosome doubling has created a large number of different
phenotypes, which results in a number of reproductively isolated but similar populations

9|Page
Advantages of polyploidy:

1. Hybrid vigor (Heterosis): Because of gene duplication, polyploids become more vigorous than their diploid
progenitors.

2. Gene redundancy shields polyploids from the deleterious effect of mutations. Why and how?

3. Asexual reproduction and self-fertilisation enables polyploids in the absence of sexual mates.

4. Polyploid plants tend to be larger. Why? Explain.

10 | P a g e
Read the text on page 10 and answer the questions below:

What are the two likely causes for polyploidy?

In what type of organisms does polyploidy most commonly occur?

What is the number of chromosomes in the red visacha (Tympanoctomys barrerae)? Why does this seem to
be due to polyploidy?

11 | P a g e