Gts 351

What is genetic drift?

Genetic drift is a random change in allele frequencies due to the finite nature of populations.

What is the Wright-Fisher Model used for?

The Wright-Fisher Model is designed to describe the effects of genetic drift on allele frequencies, assuming constant population size, non-overlapping generations, and random mating.

How is allele frequency calculated?

Allele frequency is calculated by dividing the number of times the allele of interest is observed in a population by the total number of gene copies at that particular genetic locus.

What does a mutation introduce to a population?

Mutations introduce variability in a population through different mechanisms such as insertions, deletions, inversions, translocations, and point mutations.

What is mutation-drift equilibrium?

Mutation-drift equilibrium occurs when the number of alleles introduced in a population via mutation equals the number of alleles lost due to drift.

What is the probability of a mutation eventually becoming fixed?

The probability of eventual fixation of a mutation is equal to its allele frequency in the absence of selection or mutation.

What factors affect the extent of a population bottleneck?

The extent of a population bottleneck is influenced by the initial population size, starting genetic diversity, duration of the event, and generation time of the species.

What is a molecular clock?

A molecular clock describes the relationship between evolutionary rate and time based on the mutation rate.

What does the binomial distribution model in population genetics?

The binomial distribution models the frequency of alleles in a population where there are two possible outcomes (being drawn or not) across independent trials.

What is the role of genetic drift in evolution?

Genetic drift causes allele frequencies to change over time due to chance sampling in finite populations.

What happens to an allele in the absence of recurrent mutation?

In the absence of recurrent mutation, an allele will eventually either become fixed or lost.

What is the significance of genetic diversity?

Genetic diversity allows populations to adapt to changing environments and resist diseases.

How does natural selection differ from genetic drift?

Natural selection is a non-random process where advantageous traits increase in frequency, whereas genetic drift is a random process.

What is gene flow?

Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can increase genetic diversity.

What defines a species in biological terms?

A species is defined as a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

What is a phylogenetic tree?

A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on their genetic characteristics.

What is assortative mating?

Assortative mating occurs when individuals with similar phenotypes mate more frequently than expected under random mating.

What is the founder effect?

The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to reduced genetic variation.

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative traits?

Qualitative traits are determined by alleles at a single locus, while quantitative traits are influenced by multiple loci.

What is environmental resistance?

Environmental resistance refers to the factors that limit population growth, such as food, predation, and disease.

What is the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.