Genetic Diversity

• What process generates genetic diversity?

  Meiosis
• What are alleles?

  Different versions of a single gene
• What does genetic diversity refer to?

  Number of different alleles in a population
• How does a large number of different alleles affect a population?

  It leads to a large variety of characteristics
• Why is genetic diversity important for a population?

  It helps populations adapt to environmental changes
• What can happen if a population has low genetic diversity?

  It may not adapt to environmental changes
• What are the ways genetic diversity is increased within a population?

  • Mutations forming new alleles
  • Gene flow from migrating individuals
• What is a mutation in the context of genetic diversity?

  A change in DNA forming new alleles
• What is gene flow?

  Introduction of alleles from migrating individuals
• How does genetic diversity allow natural selection to occur?

  Some characteristics are more advantageous than others
• What is a genetic bottleneck?

  An event causing a reduction in population size
• What effect does a genetic bottleneck have on genetic diversity?

  It reduces the number of different alleles
• What happens to the population after a genetic bottleneck?

  • Survivors reproduce
  • Larger population created from few individuals
  • Genetic diversity is greatly reduced
• What is the founder effect?

  When a few organisms start a new colony
• How does the founder effect impact allele frequency?

  It may change allele frequency in the new colony
• What can result from a small number of alleles in the founder population?

  A higher incidence of genetic disease
• What causes the founder effect?

  • Migration leading to geographical separation
  • Separation for reasons like religion
• What is the result of a small group splitting off from the original population?

  A new population with reduced genetic diversity
• How does the frequency of alleles change in a new population formed by the founder effect?

  Some alleles may become more common