GENETIC INFO

• What is genetic diversity?


  The number of different alleles of genes in a species or population
• How is genetic diversity within a population increased?

  Mutations in the DNA forming new alleles.Different alleles being introduced into a population when individuals from another population migrate into them and reproduce (gene flow)
• What is a genetic bottleneck?

  An event that causes a big reduction in a population
• How do genetic bottlenecks reduce genetic diversity?

  When a large number of organisms die before reproducing, it reduces the number of alleles in the gene pool.
• What is the founder effect?

  It describes what happens when a few organisms from a populations start a new colony so there are only a small number of alleles in their initial gene pool
• How can the founder effect occur?

  As a result of migration leading to geographical separation, or for another reason such as religion.
• What is natural selection?

  When organisms with alleles that help them survive, live whilst those who don't have that allele die out
• Explain the process of natural selection

  1) individuals that have an allele that increases their chance of survival are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on their genes.

  2)This means a greater proportion of the next generation inherits the beneficial allele.

  3)They, in turn are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on their genes.

  4)The frequency of the beneficial allele increases from generation to generation.

  5)Over generations this leads to evolution as the advantageous alleles become more common.
• What are the types of adaptations?

  Behavioural

  Physiological

  Anatomical
• What is a behavioural adaptation?


  Ways in which an organism acts that increases its chance of survival and reproduction. For example playing dead to escape attack.
• What is a physiological adaptation?

  Processes inside and organism's body that increases its chance of survival. For example hibernation lowers metabolism to conserve energy.
• What is an anatomical adaptation?

  Structural features of an organism's body that increases its chance of survival. For example a thick layer of blubber.