BIOL 23373 - General Genetics Lecture 30: Population Genetics II

These flashcards cover key concepts from Lecture 30 of General Genetics, focusing on population genetics principles, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and the effects of genetic drift and inbreeding.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

A null model in population genetics where allele frequencies do not change across generations.

Null Model

A model that provides a benchmark for comparison against observed datasets, particularly in determining if evolutionary forces are acting on a population.

Allele Frequencies

The proportion of a specific allele in a population, which can change due to evolutionary forces.

Genotype Frequencies

The proportion of different genotypes within a population, predictable from allele frequencies in H-W equilibrium.

Chi-square Test

A statistical test used to compare observed frequencies with expected frequencies to determine if they differ significantly.

Inbreeding Depression

The reduced biological fitness in a population due to inbreeding and the accumulation of deleterious recessive alleles.

Genetic Drift

A mechanism of evolution that involves random changes in allele frequencies, particularly affecting small populations.

Assortative Mating

A nonrandom mating pattern where individuals with similar phenotypes mate more frequently than would be expected under random mating.

Evolutionary Forces

Factors such as selection, migration, mutation, and genetic drift that can cause changes in allele frequencies in a population.

Genetic Load

The accumulation of deleterious alleles in a population due to inbreeding, which can affect the population's health and viability.