How Populations Evolve - Chapter 13

These flashcards cover the key concepts from Chapter 13 on how populations evolve, touching on evolution, natural selection, genetic variation, and evidence supporting evolutionary mechanisms.

What is the theory of evolution as described in the lecture?

The idea that living species are descendants of ancestral species that were different from present-day ones.

Who is known for the book 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'?

Charles Darwin.

What is 'descent with modification'?

All of life is connected by common ancestry, and descendants have accumulated adaptations to changing environments over vast spans of time.

What provides strong evidence for evolution according to the lecture?

The study of fossils.

What is meant by 'homology' in the context of evolution?

Similarity resulting from common ancestry.

What are the three main causes of evolutionary change?

Natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.

What is microevolution?

A change in the frequencies of alleles in a population's gene pool.

What is the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

A principle that states allele and genotype frequencies will remain constant under certain conditions, indicating no evolution is occurring.

What effect does natural selection have on a population?

It consistently leads to adaptive evolution, resulting in better fit organisms for their environment.

What does stabilizing selection favor?

Intermediate phenotypes.

What is sexual selection?

A form of natural selection where individuals with certain characteristics are more likely to obtain mates.

What is the ultimate source of genetic variation?

Mutations.

How does natural selection differ from other forms of selection?

Natural selection is an editing process that acts on existing variations rather than creating new traits.

Why can’t an individual evolve?

Evolution occurs at the population level over generations, not at the level of individuals.