Epigenetic
modifications from
environmental factors
Non-heritable variation from
environmental factors
Competition
Intraspecific = members of the same
species compete for the same
resource
Interspecific = members of different
species compete for the same
resource
Selection pressure
= an environmental factor that can
alter the frequency of alleles in a
population, when it is limiting
Natural selection = the increased chance
of survival and reproduction of
organisms with phenotypes suited to
their environment, enhancing the
transfer of favourable alleles from one
generation to the next
Value of an allele depends
on the environment
e.g. availability of nesting sites,
day length, overcrowding,
predation, temperature,
human impact
Population genetics
Gene pool = All the alleles
present in a population at a
given time
Allele frequency = The
frequency of an allele as a
proportion of all the alleles
of that gene in a gene pool
Hardy-Weinberg
Equation
p+q=1
p^2+2pq+q^2=1
Evolution and selection
Evolution = A change in
the average phenotype of
a population
Founder effect and genetic drift
Genetic drift = Chance
variations in allele
frequencies in a
population
Founder effect = The loss of genetic
variation in a new population
established by a very small number
of individuals from a larger
population
Natural selection
Stabilising selection = the average
phenotype provide greater
advantage than either extreme
Normal distribution
curve
Directional selection = an
extreme phenotype
becomes advantageous
Disruptive selection =
average phenotype does
not provide an advantage
and is selected against, a
lower and higher value
are selected
Isolation and speciation
Speciation = formation of
a new species
Species = A group of
phenotypically similar
organisms that can
interbreed to produce
fertile offspring
Reproductive isolation = The
presentation of reproduction and
gene flow between breeding groups
within a species
Deme = Sub-group
within a
population that
breeds more often
Pre-zygotic isolation
Geographical
Allopatric speciation = the evolution of
new species from demes isolated in
different geographical locations
= gametes are prevented from fusing, so a
zygote never forms
Behavioural
Mating rituals and
courtship displays
Sympatric speciation = the
evolution of a new species
from demes sharing a
geographical location
Morphological
Sympatric speciation
Compatible/incompatible
genitalia
Gametic
e.g. germination/pollination
Seasonal
Post-zygotic isolation
= gametes fuse and zygote
forms, is sterile
Hybrid sterility
hybrid = the offspring of a cross between members
of different species
embryo develops but offspring is sterile, because
homologous pair cannot form at prophase I
Hybrid no. chromosomes between that
of each parent
Hybrid inviability
fertilisation occurs but
embryo does not form
Darwinian evolution
1. Organisms overproduce offspring, so
large genetic variation of genotypes in
population
2. Environmental changes bring new
selection pressures
3. Only individuals with beneficial
alleles have a selective advantage,
increasing their chance of survival
4. These individuals reproduce more
successfully than those without beneficial
alleles
5. Offspring likely to inherit beneficial alleles
6. Beneficial allele frequency increases
within the gene pool