EVOLUTION
- INTRODUCTION
- Evolution explains the unity and diversity of life
- Unity is explained as all living things share the same fundamental characteristics because they are descended from a common ancestor
- Diversity is explained as all populations adapt to their varying habitats
- Terms
- Population
- All the members of a single species, occupying a particular area at the same time
- Gene pool
- In a population, a gene pool represents all the various alleles of all the gene loci in all the members
- Species
- Biological species
- A group of interbreeding populations that share a gene pool and are reproductively isolated from other species
- Must produce viable, fertile offspring
- Subpopulations of the same species exchange genes, but different species do not exchange genes
Morphospecies
Used for asexually reproducing organisms and extinct organisms found in the fossil record
Evolution
- Changes in the genetic make up of a population from one generation to the next
- Changes in the allelic or genotypic frequencies of a population over time
CONDITIONS MAINTAINING A HARDY-WEINBERG EQUILIBRIUM
- Large population
- No mutations
- No gene flow
- Random mating
- No selective pressure
CONDITIONS LEADING TO MICROEVOLUTION
- Small population
Results in what is termed genetic drift
- Changes in genetic make up of a population do to sampling errors associated with small numbers
- Results in genetic diversity
Many genes may become fixed in the population
Founder's effect
- When a few individuals found a colony, only a fraction of the total genetic diversity of the original gene pool is represented
Bottle neck effect
- A population subjected to near extinction because of a indiscrimnat killing
- Prevents the majority of types of genotypes from participating in the production of the next generation
Mutations
Source of all new alleles (variation)
May be advantageous, disadvantageous or neutral
Gene flow
Movement of alleles between populations
Non-random mating
Interbreeding / selfing
- Breeding with closely related individuals or self-fertilization
- Changes genotypic frequency, not allelic frequency
- Increased number of homozygotes
More likely to see recessive traits expressed in these populations
Assortive mating
- Like organisms breeding only with similar organisms
- Changes genotypic frequency, not allelic frequency
- Increased number of homozygotes
More likely to see recessive traits expressed in these populations
Selective pressure
Some alleles may be disadvantageous in an environment and selected against (not passed on), while others may be advantageous and selected for
NATURAL SELECTION
- Contributors
Charles Lyell
- Introduced the concept of gradualism
Jean Baptiste Lamark
- Introduced the idea of evolution
- Theory of transmission of acquired characteristics was shown to be incorrect
Charles Darwin
- Introduced the idea of natural selection as the driving force of evolution
Gregory Mendel
- Introduced the idea of genes as the mechanism of transmission of traits
Observation and Inferences by Charles Darwin
Observation 1
- All species produce more offspring then the environment can support
Inference 1
- This leads to a struggle for resources, with only a fraction of offspring surviving each generation
Observation 2
- There is much variation within a population
Observation 3
- Much of this variation is hereditable
Inference 2
- Survival is not random, but rather on inherited characteristics
- Those individuals whose inherited characteristics fit them best to their environment are more likely to leave more offspring than less fit individuals
Inference 3
- This unequal ability of individuals to survive and reproduce can lead to gradual changes in a population, with favorable characteristics accumulating over time
SELECTION PATTERNS
- Stabilizing selection
The intermediate phenotype is favored by natural selection over the extremes
Disruptive selection
Two or more extreme phenotypes are favored over intermediate phenotype
Directional selection
Occurs when an extreme phenotype is favored, and the distribution curve shifts in that direction
BARRIERS TO GENE FLOW BETWEEN SPECIES
- Prezygotic barriers
Spatial isolation
- Located in different habitats
Temporal isolation
- Breed at different times
Behavioral isolation
- Species specific signals do not attrack other species
Mechanical isolation
- Genitalia unsuitable to one another
Gamete isolation
- Gametes won't fuse
Post zygotic barriers
Reduced hybrid viability
Reduced hybrid fertility
Hybrid breakdown
SPECIATION
- Allopatric
A population becomes separated physically and the subpopulations evolve separately into different species
Sympatric
A population evolves into separate species while in the same area
Polyploidy is one mechanism that can result in sympatric speciation
- Autopolyploidy is when an extra set of chromosomes comes from the same species
- Allopolypoidy is when an extra set of chromosomes comes from a different species