8-Genetics and the Evolution of phenotypes

Natural Selection

A process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Phenotypic Variation

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual, consisting of both alleles inherited from the parents.

Phenotype

The set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism, such as morphology, development, biochemical properties, and behavior.

Polygenic Traits

Traits that are influenced by multiple genes, often resulting in a continuous range of phenotypes.

Disruptive Selection

A type of natural selection that favors extreme values of a trait over intermediate values.

Linkage Equilibrium

The situation in which alleles at different loci are randomly distributed among gametes, indicating no linkage between those loci.

Epistasis

A form of gene interaction in which the effect of one gene is modified by one or several other genes.

Heritability

The proportion of variation among individuals in a population that can be attributed to differences in their genes.

Melanic Form

A variant of a species characterized by dark pigmentation, often associated with specific environmental conditions.

Fecundity

The potential reproductive capacity of an individual or population, often measured as the number of offspring produced.

Gene Flow

The transfer of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new alleles and increase genetic diversity.

Adaptation

A process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Convergent Evolution

The process whereby organisms not closely related independently evolve similar traits.

Divergent Evolution

When two or more related species become more dissimilar over time, often due to different environmental pressures.

Mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits.

Natural Selection Pressure

Factors that influence reproductive success in individuals, leading to evolutionary changes in populations.

Gene Pool

The total collection of genes in a population at any one time.

Fitness

A measure of an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Selection Pressure

Environmental forces that influence which individuals survive and reproduce.

Coevolution

The influence of closely associated species on each other in their evolution.