Genetic diversity and selection

• Intraspecific variation- differences in individuals of different species
• Interspecific variation- Differences in individuals of the same species
• Alleles- versions of a gene
• Natural selection- the process by which the best adapted to an environment will survive and pass on their genetics
• Artificial selection- deliberate breeding of individuals with specific traits. AKA: selective breeding
• Species- organisms that can breed to produce fertile offspring
• Population- A group of individuals belonging to the same species in a given area
• Genetic diversity- the number of different alleles or genes in a population, enables natural selection
• Key steps of natural selection

  • genetic diversity
  • mutation
  • survival of the fittest
  • breed
  • generations
  • speciation
• Genetic diversity- different alleles in a population
• Mutation- random mutation can result in new alleles of a gene
• Survival of the fittest- many mutations are harmful but in certain environments, the new allele may be beneficial and lead to increased reproductive success
• Breed- the advantageous allele is inherited by members of the next generation
• Generations- over many generations, the new allele increases in frequency in the population
• Speciation- individuals are now so dissimilar that they are unable to breed with new members of their previous species to create fertile offspring