BIOL 1407 Pre-Lab: Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium

These flashcards cover key concepts related to Hardy Weinberg equilibrium and the principles of evolution as discussed in the BIOL 1407 pre-lab session.

What is evolution?

Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

What is the formula for Hardy Weinberg equilibrium?

The formula for Hardy Weinberg equilibrium is p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where p and q represent the frequencies of two alleles.

What happens to allele frequencies in a population with no evolutionary forces?

If no evolutionary forces are acting on a population, allele frequencies remain constant from generation to generation.

List the five assumptions or evolutionary forces of Hardy Weinberg equilibrium.

1. Large population size (no genetic drift), 2. No mutation, 3. No migration (gene flow), 4. Random mating, 5. No natural selection.

Do you expect evolution to occur in your population of beadles?

Expectations about evolution depend on whether the conditions for Hardy Weinberg equilibrium are met; if they are not, evolution is likely to occur.

Definition of genetic drift.

Genetic drift is the random fluctuation of allele frequencies in a population, especially in small populations.

Definition of gene flow.

Gene flow is the transfer of alleles or genes from one population to another through migration.

Definition of mutation in the context of evolution.

Mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can create new alleles in a population.

Definition of natural selection.

Natural selection is the process through which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

What is random mating?

Random mating occurs when individuals pair by chance, not according to their genotypes or phenotypes.