Evolution
RANDOM CHANGES
Mechanisms of Evolution
The following all result in changes in gene
frequencies in a population, therefore all lead
to evolution
RANDOM: NONRANDOM:
Mutations Natural Selection
Genetic Drift Sexual Selection
Gene Flow Artificial Selection
These have already been
addressed
Are changes in the sequence of an organism’s
DNA that can result in new traits
They are the ULTIMATE SOURCE OF ALL
VARIATION and the only source of new alleles
Can be passed to later generations only if the
Mutations mutation is in the gamete (mutations in somatic
cells are not passed on).
Mutations
• Neutral Mutation: has no immediate effect on an individual’s fitness.
Most are silent mutations.
• Harmful Mutation: Inheritable change in a cell’s DNA that impairs the
proper operation of a gene product or regulatory function.
• Beneficial Mutation: gives individual selective advantage → increased
reproductive success
What impact could each of the above mutation types have on the gene
frequencies over time in a given population?
Genetic Drift
Isa random process that can lead to changes in
gene frequencies over a short period of time,
therefore it is still a mechanism that drives
evolution
Two types: Bottleneck and Founder Effect
Amoeba sisters [Link]
Genetic Drift – due to Bottleneck Effect
Bottleneck Effect →A dramatic,
often temporary, reduction in
population size
Only a small sample of alleles
survives to establish the new pop’n
These individuals often do not reflect
the allele makeup of the original
population, and because of that,
genetic drift often results
E.g. Bottleneck Effect
An example of a bottleneck:
• Northern elephant seals have reduced genetic variation because of a
population bottleneck humans inflicted on them in the 1890s.
• Hunting reduced their population size to as few as 20 individuals at the end
of the 19th century.
• Their population has since rebounded to over 30,000—but their genes still
carry the marks of this bottleneck
• They have much less genetic variation than a population of southern
elephant seals that was not so intensely hunted.
Genetic Drift due to Founder Effect
Founder Effect → results after a small
number of individuals isolate
themselves from their original
population and establish a new one.
The distribution of variation for a trait
will likely not be the same as the
original population.
Common in nature.
Ex. Of Founder Effect
Old Order Mennonites who immigrated to Pennsylvania in the early
18th century from Europe suffer from increased incidences of a
number of genetic disorders.
Maple Syrup Urine Disease is said to occur in 1 of every 358 births
(over 500 times more likely than the general population.)
Effect of Genetic Drift
One possible effect of genetic drift is allele fixation
▫ This is the change in a gene pool from a situation
where there exists at least two alleles of a particular
gene in each population to a situation where only
one of the alleles remains, reducing genetic diversity
A gene has achieved fixation when its frequency has
reached 100% in the population.
Allele Fixation
Which of the graphs above represent allele fixation?
Gene Flow
The movement of alleles from one
population to another through:
Permanent migration
Mating between populations without
permanent migration
Genetic info is shared between
populations
Unlike genetic drift, gene flow
reduces genetic differences
between populations, and increases
variation within a population
Hardy-Weinberg Principle
• Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele frequencies in a population will
remain constant over time, therefore no evolution, if the following conditions are
met in population:
▪ The population size remains large.
▪ Mating opportunities are equal.
▪ No mutations occur.
▪ No migration occurs.
▪ No natural selection occurs.
i.e. All individuals have an equal chance at surviving.
TEXT REF: 8.1
Pages: 331-331
Question 9, 10 and 13 on page 335
Amoeba sisters [Link]
Try this:
[Link]