Species and Population Genetics Overview

A set of flashcards covering essential vocabulary and concepts related to species definition, population genetics, and phylogeography.

Morphological Species Concept

A species concept based on observable physical characteristics.

Phylogenetic Species Concept

Defines species based on evolutionary history and genetic relationships.

Gene Flow

Genetic connectivity between individuals, populations, or species.

Endangered

A conservation status indicating a species at risk of extinction.

DNA Barcoding

A method using specific gene regions to identify species.

Cryptic Species

Species that are genetically distinct but morphologically similar.

Metabarcoding

Identifying multiple species from environmental DNA samples.

Anagenesis

Gradual genetic change within a lineage.

Cladogenesis

A process where one lineage splits into two.

Microsatellites

Repeated sequences in DNA used for individual identification.

Allelic Diversity

A measure of the variety of alleles in a population.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

A principle that describes allele frequency stability across generations under certain conditions.

Effective Population Size (Ne)

The number of individuals contributing to the next generation.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in small populations.

Isolation by Distance

A pattern where genetic similarity decreases as geographic distance increases.

Phylogeography

Study of the geographical distribution of genetic lineages.

Molecular Clocks

Methods to estimate divergence times based on genetic distance.

Coalescent Theory

A genetic theory that explains how all alleles coalesce to a most recent common ancestor.

Nested Clade Analysis

A method that compares genetic and geographic structures to infer historical processes.

Landscape Genetics

Combining spatial data with genetic information to understand population connectivity.