Genetics and

Evolution
10.3 Gene pools and
speciation

By Megane
Gene pool
A gene pool consists of all the genes
and different alleles present in an
interbreeding population (populations
of the same species).
A large gene pool leads to more
diversity and vice versa as gene pool
compositions changes via evolution.
Evolution
• Evolution is the change in the allele frequency of a gene pool
across generations.
Allele frequency: the is a measure of the relative
frequency of an allele on a genetic locus in a
population. Usually it is expressed as a proportion or a
percentage. In genetics, allele frequencies show the
genetic diversity of a species population or equivalently the
richness of its gene pool.
Natural selection
• Is simply the change in the composition of a gene pool
caused by the presence of differentially selective
environmental pressures.
• These environmental pressures include; stabilizing selection,
disruptive selection, directional selection.
Types of Selection
1. Stabilizing selection: Is a type of selection that removes individuals from both ends of a phenotypic
distribution, thus maintaining the same distribution mean. This occurs when natural selection
favors the intermediate phenotypes. Over time, the intermediate states become more common
and each extreme variation will become less common or lost.
An example is seen below, where medium colored fur is favored over light and dark color fur.
2. Disruptive selection: Is a type of selection where
individuals are removed from the center of a
phenotype, this occurs when natural selection 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. This can lead to two new species.
3. Directional selection: is a type of selection where
individuals are removed from one end of a
phenotypic distribution and thus causes a shift in
the distribution towards the other end. Over time,
the favored extreme will become more common,
and the other extreme will be less common or lost.
 Is an evolutionary process resulting in
the formation of a new species by
splitting an existing population.

Speciation
Speciation is the result of reproductive
isolation- reproductive isolation is when
members of the same species no longer
mate with each other.
 Allopatric speciation involves the geographical
separation of populations by a physical barrier
exposing the population to different environmental
conditions which to an extent no more
interbreeding/speciation occur. An example is Cichlids
exposed to different water levels fluctuations are
caused to isolate, prohibiting/hindering speciation.
Reproductive
isolation Sympatric isolation involves the isolation of gene pools
in the same geographic area leading to speciation.
Here, the populations are not exposed to different
environmental conditions, but the resulting speciation
is caused by either behavioral (populations that mate
only with members of their own population) or
temporal mechanisms (populations that mate in
different seasons).
 These are organisms having more than two sets of
chromosomes.

Chromosomes duplicate in preparation for meiosis

but when it fail to occur, it results in a diploid
Polyploidy gamete. The diploid gamete turn to fuse with a
haploid gamete and produce fertile offspring.

Polyploidy plants can self pollinate and reproduce

asexually, therefore it is more common in plants
than animals. Polyploidy can then lead to
Sympatric Speciaton.
Polyploidy
example
Pace of Speciation
Evolution which leads to speciation may occur through one of the following;

• Phyletic gradualism: this is when species

slowly change through a series of continuous
intermediate forms
• Punctuated equilibrium: this is when periods
of rapid evolution are observed after long
periods of relative stability.