Microevolution

Flashcards covering key concepts related to microevolution including definitions and mechanisms of evolution.

Microevolution

Small-scale evolutionary changes typically involving allele frequency changes in populations over time.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and can interbreed.

Evolution

A change in the allele frequencies of a population over time, often described as descent with modification.

Allele Frequencies

The relative frequency of an allele (variant of a gene) in a population.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence of an organism, which can introduce new alleles into a population.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population, which can lead to evolution.

Bottleneck Effect

A significant reduction in population size that reduces genetic diversity.

Founder Effect

When a small group of individuals establishes a new population, often with reduced genetic variation.

Common Descent

The theory that all living organisms share a common ancestor.

Biological Evolution

The process of change in the characteristics of living organisms over successive generations.

Acquired Characteristics

Traits that organisms develop by use or disuse during their lifetime, which are not inherited.

What Evolves?

Populations