Chapter 11 The Evolution in Populations

11.1: Genetic Variation Within Population

Key Concept: A population shares a common gene pool

Genetic variation in a population increases the chances that some individuals will survive

 A phenotype- trait produced by one or more genes

 Genetic variation leads to phenotypic variation
 The greater the variation in phenotype, the more likely it is that some individuals can
survive in a changing environment
 Phenotypic variation is necessary for natural selection
 Genetic variation is stored in a population’s gene pool
o The combined alleles of all the individuals in a population
o Allele combinations form when organisms have offspring

 Allele frequencies: measure genetic variation

o Measures how common allele is in population
o Can be calculated for each allele in gene pool

Genetic variation comes from several sources

Genetic variation comes from two main sources: mutation and recombination
 Mutation is a random change in the DNA of a gene
o This change can form a new allele
o Mutations can be passed on to offspring if in reproductive cells

 Recombination forms new combinations of alleles in offspring

o Usually occurs during meiosis- type of cell needed for sexual reproduction
o Parents alleles arranged in new ways in gametes
o Most recombination occurs during meiosis- type of cell division needed for
sexual reproduction

 Hybridization is the crossing of two different species that share common genes
o Research suggests that this process occurs within many groups of animals,
including birds and mammals, when similar species live in the same area and>>>
o Occurs when individuals can’t find mate of own species
o Topic of current scientific research
11.2 Natural Selection in Populations

Key Concept: Population, NOT individuals, evolve

Natural Selection: antibiotics: resistant bacteria:

population of mainly susceptible bacteria population of mainly resistant bacteria
Superbugs: microorganisms resistente a todos los medicamentos que temenos que usar nuevas

Natural selection acts on distribution of traits

 A normal distribution graphs as a bell-shaped curve
o Highest frequency near mean value
o Frequencies decrease toward each extreme value
 Traits not undergoing natural selection have a normal distribution

Natural selection can change the distribution of a trait in one of three ways
 Microevolution is evolution within population
o Observable change in the allele frequencies of a population over time
o Can result from natural selection- it can change the distribution of a trait along
one of three paths:

 Natural selection can take on of three paths

 1. Directional selection – causes a shift in a populations phenotypic distribution
 favors phenotypes at one extreme

 2. Stabilizing selection favors the intermediate phenotype and becomes more common
in the population
  3. Disruptive selection favors both extreme phenotypes

11.3 The Evolution in Populations

Key Concept: Natural Selection is not the only mechanisms through which populations evolve

Gene flow: is the movement of alleles between populations

 Occurs when individuals join new populations and reproduce
 Keeps neighboring populations gene pool similar
 Low gene flow increases the chance that two populations will evolve into different
species

Genetic drift: is a change in allele frequencies due to chance

 Genetic drift cause a loss of genetic diversity in a population
 It is most common in small populations
 A population bottleneck can lead to genetic drift (fenomeno que cause extincion)
o It occurs when an event drastically reduces population size
o The bottleneck effect is genetic drift that occurs after a bottleneck event

 The founding of a small population can lead to genetic drift

o It occurs when a few individuals start a new population
o The founder effect is genetic drift that occurs after start of a new population

 Genetic drift has negative effects on a population

o A population is less likely to have some individuals that can adapt to a changing
environment
o alleles that are lethal in homozygous individuals may be carried by heterozygous
individuals and become more common in the gene pool due to chance alone
o Harmful alleles can become more common due to chance

Sexual selection occurs when certain traits increase making success

 Sexual selection occurs due to higher cost of reproduction for female
 Male produce many sperm continuously
 Female are more limited in potential offspring each cycle
 There are two types of sexual selection:
o Intrasexual selection: competition among males, the winner mates with the
female
o Intersexual selection: male display certain traits to attract the female
 Traits that increase mating success are not always adaptive for the survival of the
individual
 Research has shown that some showy traits may be linked with genes for good health
and fertility.
 Other traits are present in males that can offer better care for offspring or defense from
predators.
 Therefore, females may use showy traits as signs of quality and health in males.