Chapter 19.

Population Genetics
 Hardy-Weinberg Assumptions
• A population in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is NOT evolving
• All HW Equilibrium assumptions must be met:
• No gene flow (immigration or emigration)
• No Natural Selection
• No mutation
• Random mating
• No genetic drift (infinitely large population)
Evolution is change in allele frequency over time, so what causes changes in
allele frequency?

• Gene Flow
• Natural Selection
• Adaptations are selected for, deleterious traits are selected against
• Mutation
• Spontaneous change in DNA; can be neutral, beneficial, or harmful
• Non-random mating
• Genetic Drift
 Genetic Drift
• Change in allele frequency due to
random chance
• Some individuals have more offspring than
other individuals
• Occurs in all populations
• Has significant effect in small populations
• Has less effect in large populations
• Can lead to allele fixation
• Only one allele present in population
 Mechanisms of Genetic Drift
Founder Effect
• Skewed representation of alleles in population
• Some individuals leave parent population to inhabit new areas
• Example: Islands, newly available ecosystem/area
• Allele frequencies are based on alleles present in “founding”
individuals

Founders

Small population size – genetic drift has significant effect here!

 Mechanisms of Genetic Drift
Bottleneck Effect
• An event that drastically reduces population size
• Skewed representation of alleles in population
• Only certain individuals survive the bottleneck event
• Example: disease, natural disaster
• Anoles in Puerto Rico, Northern Elephant seals
• Allele frequencies are based on alleles present in individuals
that survive

Small population size – genetic drift has significant effect here!

 Non-random mating
• Not all individuals have an equal opportunity
to mate
• Most species compete for mates
• Mate choice
• Females prefer to mate with a male with specific traits
• Sometimes also caused by geographic
location
• Few individuals in an area  less mate choice
• Even within a large population, those closest to
each other mate with each other
 Gene Flow
• Flow of alleles in and out of a population due to migration
• No immigration/emigration means no gene flow
• Immigration/Emigration is gene flow
• Rate of gene flow affects allele frequency
• Initial gene flow between populations increases the genetic
variation within the receiving population
• Continual gene flow between populations leads to less genetic
variation between those populations