ANTB14: Evolutionary Anthropology Lecture 3: Microevolution I

Flashcards reviewing key vocabulary and concepts related to microevolution, including adaptation, mutation, genetic drift, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, as discussed in the Evolutionary Anthropology lecture.

Adaptation

A characteristic that enhances the survival or reproduction of organisms that bear it.

Convergent evolution

Independent origins of the same trait/phenotype.

Microevolution

Evolution happening on a small scale within a single population, affecting changes in allele frequencies.

Mutation

The only way to produce new allele variants.

Point Mutation

Substitution of a single base.

Frameshift Mutation

Insertion or deletion of a base or bases.

Chromosomal Deletion

A section of a chromosome is deleted.

Chromosomal Duplication

A section of a chromosome is duplicated.

Chromosomal Inversion

The order of genetic loci on a chromosome are flipped.

Chromosomal Insertion

A portion of a different chromosome is inserted into another.

Lactase persistence (or lactose tolerance)

Maintaining benefits of dairy products into adulthood when the regulatory gene is turned on by mutation, so lactase continues to be produced.

Genetic Drift

Changes in allele frequency produced by random sampling.

Bottleneck Effect

Population passes through a 'bottleneck', wherein only a small portion survive, leading to reduced variation.

Founder Effect

A small subset of the original population leaves or is separated, becoming the founding members of a new population.

Antigens

Present on cell and trigger immune response; determine blood type.

Antibodies

Present in plasma and seek to destroy specific antigens.

Gene Flow

Exchange of genes between populations.

Population Genetics

The study of the frequency of alleles, genotypes, and phenotypes in populations.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

A mathematical model expressing the predicted distribution of alleles in populations when no evolution is occurring.

Positive Assortative Mating

Individuals with similar phenotypes mate more frequently than expected under random mating.

Negative Assortative Mating

Individuals with dissimilar phenotypes mate more frequently than expected under random mating.