Population Genetics Lecture

A collection of flashcards designed to cover key vocabulary and concepts from the Population Genetics lecture, helping students prepare for their exam.

Population Genetics

The study of genes and genotypes in a population, focusing on genetic variation, its maintenance, and how it changes over generations.

Gene pool

All of the alleles for every gene in a given population.

Polymorphism

The presence of two or more variations for a given character in a population due to different alleles.

Allele frequency

The number of copies of a specific allele in a population divided by the total number of all alleles for that gene in the population.

Genotype frequency

The number of individuals with a particular genotype in a population divided by the total number of individuals in that population.

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium

A principle indicating that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.

Microevolution

Changes in a population's gene pool from generation to generation, often triggered by processes like mutations, natural selection, genetic drift, and migration.

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals with beneficial traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to adaptations in populations over time.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population, which can have a larger effect in smaller populations.

Sexual Selection

A form of natural selection directed at certain traits of sexually reproducing species that improve mating success.

Intrasexual selection

Competition among individuals of the same sex for mating opportunities.

Intersexual selection

Selection where individuals of one sex select their mates from individuals of the other sex based on desirable traits.

Founder effect

A genetic phenomenon that occurs when a small group separates from a larger population, leading to reduced genetic variation.

Inbreeding

Mating between closely related individuals, leading to an increased chance of homozygosity which can affect population fitness.

Assortative mating

A mating pattern where individuals with similar phenotypes are more likely to mate.

Disassortative mating

A mating pattern where individuals with dissimilar phenotypes mate preferentially, increasing heterozygosity.

Fitness

A measure of an individual's reproductive success relative to others, often denoted by a fitness value.

Balancing selection

A selective pressure that maintains genetic diversity in a population by favoring heterozygotes and keeping alleles in balance.