EVOLUTION

Change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by processes such as mutation, natural selection & genetic drift
Occurs bec of changes to the equilibrium

Gene Pool
 Sum of all the individual genes in a given population MECHANISMS of EVOLUTION
 Within a gene pool, every allele/gene variant has a 1. Mutation
particular ratio/frequency  Passed on ensuring that it is evident in organisms through
 Determined by dividing the total # of a certain allele by the time
total # of alleles of all types in the population  Results to evolution, good or bad, depending on which
o More frequent = more common point of view
 The instructions that code for protein are changed and so
total number of a certain alleles are the traits
Gene pool =  When mutation is passed on, sex cells are affected and
total number of all types of alleles almost permanently changing the gene line as it goes on
Genes are eliminated from the gene pool if sexual reproduction
Change of genetic code  change of genetic instructions 
won’t occur
codes for protein changes traits
When sexual interaction happens, mutation is passed on
Population
 A grp of organisms of one species that interbreed & live in Mutation on somatic cells will not be passed on
the same place at the same time Genetic disorders can be passed on
Point Mutation
Speciation
 Edits info where old info is lost while new one replaces it
 2 populations originally share genetic makeup but due to
 Any change that only affects a single pair of nucleotides
geological factors, they will not be able to share genes
(letters) in the genetic code
anymore so overtime, their gene pool evolves to become
 Commonly occurs randomly when cells are reproducing
different species
 Excellent source of new genetic information for a
 1 source but branched out to become different by factors
population
 Effect of natural selection
 Do not increase the total amount of information in the
genetic code of an individual
Variation
 A population is different in terms of genetic makeup
Every child born has about 70 unique point mutations
 Genetic makeup & environment makes humans different Gene Duplication
 Stretch of genetic code is duplicated & reinserted into DNA
Genes
 The duplicated gene usually accumulates smaller
 Help determine the size, shape, behavior
mutations making them more efficient
 Humans have 20,000 genes
2. Gene Migration/ Gene Flow
 Immigration of new individuals w/ new/diff alleles
 Exchange of genes between 2 populations
 Same species but different population
Can’t breed organisms from different species
 Prevents speciation
o Less isolation that is affected by natural selection
o Maintained gene flow between 2 populations can
lead to a combination of the 2 gene pools, reducing
the genetic differentiation between the 2 groups

Biological populations evolve to become distinct species

  If the population is large, natural selection is what takes
3. Genetic Drift effect
 Responsible for random changes in a gene pool Types of Natural Selection
 Happens to all populations Directional S
 Has drastic effect in small populations  Individuals that display a more extreme form of a trait
 Driven by chance, not selection have greater fitness (organisms ability to survive) than
o Results by chance from random event individuals w/ an average form of the trait
o Evolutionary fitness doesn’t matter  NS only chooses 1 type of trait
Founder Effect Stabilizing S
 Small group leaves w/ varying gene frequency  Individuals w/ the average form of a trait have the highest
 Those who leaves starts a new gene pool w/ just their trait fitness
 Most common trait as a group is often carried onto the  Too few  Most will be eaten
offspring  Too much  Lack of resources
 3 all right handed join a population of 2 left handed, Disruptive S
offspring will be right handed  Individuals w/ either extreme variation of a trait have
Bottleneck Effect greater fitness than individuals w/ the average form of the
 Less common traits is covered up bec of a random event trait
 Original population suffers a random event w/c wipes out  Either extremes left or extreme right will have a greater
the portion of population which eliminates them from the fitness; average ones can’t survive
gene pool
Mix of traits separate  bring another set of traits 
starting a new pop bringing w/ then their new set of traits
 1 pop is all left; 1 pop is all right

4. Non-Random Mating
 Choosing mates non-randomly is advantageous once
mates w/ good genes are selected to produce the best
possible offspring
 Genetic info can be spread out w/c changes the gene pool
of the future generation
Descent w/ Modification
If an organism chooses a mate & reproduces, their offspring can
 Offspring descend from their parents w/ modification
reproduce as well
o Unlike their parents but are similar to an extent
 50-50 genes from both parents
5. Natural Selection
 Made possible by gene variation brought by sexual
 Process by w/c random evolutionary changes are selected
reproduction (crossing over; independent assortment)
for by nature in a consistent, orderly, non-random way
 Causes new traits to be randomly produced
 Gradual process by w/c heritable traits become either
Common Descent
more/less common in a pop bec of pressures from the
 All organisms descend from a common ancestor
environment
 Not directly an observable fact
 Biodiversity happened bec of evolutionary factors &
 Conclusion based on a mass collection of observable facts
natural selection
o Facts from the study of fossils, genetics,
 Affects a large population
comparative anatomy, biochemistry, species
 Shaped biological time scale
distribution
 Determines if change is good or bad
 Concepts around since ancient times but rejected
 Nature decides which of the new traits, produced by
 Can’t get order & complexity from random chaos alone
descent w/ modification, to keep (positive/ negative)
 Positive - Add up over generations
6. Selective Breeding
 Negative - Quickly discarded
 Artificial selection
Organisms evolve to suit their environment
 Through human intervention (farmer)
 They evolve & if their changes will suit the environment
 If only best vegies are allowed to reproduce, small positive
then they will survive
changes will add up over generations producing a superior
 Organisms don't suit to the environment, instead,
vegetable
evolutions occur then it is tested whether it is suitable to
the environment
Charles Darwin
 Environment determines what organisms survive
 Naturalist
depending on what traits will help organisms survive
 Traveled by ship documenting plants & animals
o How they survive depends on the environment
 Interested in common descent
Random evolutionary changes
Pressures in the environment that can lead to NS/evolution
 Brought about by factors
 Overpopulation
o Mutation, migration, genetic drift, non-random
 Changing environment
mating
 Resource competition
 Only effective if the population size is small
 Predators