How populations evolve

Evolution

Change in allele frequencies in a population over time.

Microevolution

Change in frequency of gene variants, alleles, in a population, typically occurring over a relatively short time period.

Population genetics

Study of the changes in allele frequencies in a population.

Population

Individuals of the same species living in an area (capable of interbreeding).

Assumptions of Hardy-Weinberg

Mating is random, large population size, no gene flow, no mutation, no natural selection.

Genetic bottleneck

Severe reduction in population size that can be caused by natural disaster, human activity, or disease outbreak.

Founder effect

A type of genetic drift where a small group of individuals breaks off from a larger population to establish a new population.

Maintaining genetic diversity

Function of mutation, recombination, and genetic drift; important for population genetics, disease, and environmental heterogeneity.