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3: Forces of Evolution

  • Page ID
    258620
    • Julie Wieczkowski, Melanie M. Mayberry, Lisa Marie Anselmi, & Susan Maguire

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    Learning Objectives
    • Perform calculations to determine change in allele frequencies within a population
    • Document how a selective pressure can change allele frequencies and can cause evolution to occur in the ant population.
    • Write and test a hypothesis

    • 3.1: The Force of Evolution
      This chapter covers the mechanisms of evolution, including mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection, which drive genetic diversity. It explains mutations as sources of genetic variation, discusses chromosomal abnormalities, and examines the impact of population bottlenecks and founder effects on genetic loss.
    • 3.2: Natural Selection Lab
      This page investigates natural selection using a lab simulation of an insectivorous primate affecting brown and green ant populations across seasons. It focuses on allele frequency changes over generations, identifying shifts influenced by selective pressures. Key concepts like variation, microevolution, and adaptive traits are outlined, demonstrating how environmental factors can favor different alleles.

    Thumbnail: An insectivorous primate (marmoset) eating a grasshopper.


    This page titled 3: Forces of Evolution is shared under a CC BY 1.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Julie Wieczkowski, Melanie M. Mayberry, Lisa Marie Anselmi, Susan Maguire, & Susan Maguire via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.