Download Population Genetics Vocabulary - Liberty Union High School District

Population
All the individuals of a species that
live together in one area at one time
Natural
Selection
Populations changing in response to
their environment
Genetic Variation
The differences between
individuals, created during meiosis and
crossing over
Allele Frequency
The relative amount of an allele for a
gene within a population.
Mutations
Changes within our DNA, and the ultimate
source of genetic variability which
natural selection acts on
Survival of the
Fittest
survival and reproduction of the
organisms that are genetically best
adapted to their environment
Survival
Making it to reproductive age
Fitness
Producing enough offspring to survive
Genetic Drift
A change in allele frequency mainly do
to small population size, such as
Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome
Gene Flow
Changes in the gene pool of a population
due to an introduction of genes from
another gene pool, such as
Vietnam.
Gene Pool
All the genes of all members of a
particular population
Founders Effect
Changes in a gene pool when a small
population moves to a new location,&
brings only a small fraction of
genes/variation seen in the parent
population, such as
The Galapagos Finches
Cladistics
Using a branched diagram to show the
relationship of organisms to their
common ancestor.
Bottleneck Effect
Changes in a gene pool due to
overhunting or natural disaster which
leads to a population that no longer
genetically represents the original
population, such as
Cheetahs
Stabilizing
Selection
Directional
Selection
A form of natural selection in which both
extremes of the phenotypes are selected
against and eliminated.
Diversifying
Selection
A form of natural selection in which both
extreme phenotypes are selected for,
while the average phenotype is
eliminated.
Divergent
Evolution
The type of evolution that results from
populations being isolated and then
evolving independently, such as
Polar and Grizzly bears.
Convergent
Evolution
The type of evolution that causes
unrelated species to become more similar
because of the environment they live in,
such as
sharks and dolphins
Co-Evolution
The type of evolution that is due to
species interacting and adapting to each
other, such as
hummingbirds and flowers
Adaptive Radiation
The evolution of many diverse species
from one common ancestor such as,
Darwin’s Finches
Vestigial
Structures
Remnants of an organ or structure that
functioned in an earlier ancestor but no
longer serves a purpose
Homologous
Structures
A body part that is similar in structure
but serves a different function for the
organism such as
whale fins and dog legs
Analogous
Structures
Biochemical
Evidence
A body part that is similar in Function
but is different structurally such as
bird and bat wings
Fossils
A form of natural selection in which one
extreme phenotype is selected against
Using DNA to determine relationships and
similarity between organisms
The remains or impression of a
prehistoric organism that can be used to
show how related species have changed
over time