Forces of Evolution: Mutations, Gene Flow & Genetic Drift

Front

What is the outcome when species produce too many offspring?

Back

Only those that are best fit can survive.

Front

What process increases genetic diversity in a population?

Back

Gene flow.

Front

What is the term for a drastic reduction in the size of a population that can change allele frequencies?

Back

The bottleneck effect.

Front

Is genetic drift driven by chance or natural selection?

Back

Genetic drift is driven by chance, not natural selection.

Front

How would you describe structures that have similar functions but different evolutionary origins?

Back

Analogous structures.

Front

What is the role of mutations in evolution?

Back

Mutations introduce new genetic variations into a population.

Front

What is gene flow and how does it affect populations?

Back

Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations, increasing genetic diversity.

Front

What is genetic drift and how does it occur?

Back

Genetic drift is a change in allele frequencies due to random sampling effects, often in small populations.

Front

What is the difference between natural selection and genetic drift?

Back

Natural selection is a non-random process that favors advantageous traits, while genetic drift is a random process.

Front

What is the founder effect?

Back

The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to reduced genetic variation.