Bio: Genetics, Evolution, and Speciation

What are the five conditions of the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

1) No mutation, 2) No gene flow, 3) Random mating, 4) No gene drift, 5) No selection.

What is microevolution?

Evolution within a population or species.

What is macroevolution?

Evolution of a whole species.

What is gene flow?

The transfer of alleles or genes from one population to another, affecting genetic diversity.

What is gene drift?

Change in allele frequency due to random events, most likely in small populations.

What is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)?

A variation at a single position in a DNA sequence among individuals.

What is a haplotype?

A cluster of SNPs on DNA that are inherited together, unique to species or individuals.

What is directional selection?

A type of natural selection that favors extreme phenotypes.

What is stabilizing selection?

A type of natural selection that favors intermediate phenotypes and eliminates extremes.

What is the evolutionary species concept?

A concept that examines fossil records to identify species based on anatomical traits.

What is the biological species concept?

A definition of species based on reproductive isolation, not applicable to asexual species.

What is allopatric speciation?

Speciation that occurs when populations are geographically isolated.

What is adaptive radiation?

A type of rapid allopatric speciation where a single ancestral species gives rise to many species.

What is sympatric speciation?

Speciation that occurs without geographic isolation, often through reproductive isolation mechanisms.

What is polyploidy?

A condition where an organism has more than two complete sets of chromosomes, often resulting from gametogenesis.

What is allopolyploidy?

The formation of a new species through the fusion of gametes from related but different species.

What is divergent evolution?

The process where two or more related species become more dissimilar over time.

What is convergent evolution?

The process where unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

How does sickle cell disease relate to natural selection?

It provides an advantage against malaria, thus remaining in the gene pool.

How does cystic fibrosis relate to natural selection?

It stays in the gene pool because the benefits outweigh the flaws in certain environments.

What does it mean that populations are dynamic?

It means that the gene pool of populations is constantly changing.

What is the significance of variations in populations?

Variations are crucial for survival, as some individuals will always survive under changing conditions.