Mechanisms of Evolution

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A type of genetic drift in which small groups of organisms separate from a larger population and form new small colonies.

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Founder Effect

Front

The exchange of genes between two populations.

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Gene Flow

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Gene pool

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The total genetic information found in a population; the complete collection of all the alleles found in a population.

Front

Mechanism of evolution involving individuals moving into or out of a population, either by physically arriving or leaving, or by being born or dying.

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Gene flow / genetic drift

Front

Mechanism of evolution where organisms with better-adapted traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

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Natural selection

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This is a pattern of natural selection where one extreme form of a trait is more advantageous than the average or the opposite extreme; as a result, this trait in the population tends to evolve towards that one extreme.

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Directional selection

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Pattern of natural selection where both extreme versions of a trait are more advantageous than the average.

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Disruptive Selection

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This occurs when a large population is drastically reduced by an event such as a natural disaster; the population's new gene pool only contains alleles from the survivors.

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Bottleneck effect

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This is the process that ultimately creates new variations and changes in DNA; leads to the creation of new alleles.

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Mutation

Front

This is a pattern of natural selection in which the average (or intermediate) form of a trait is the most advantageous, and so a population evolves away from the extremes and toward the average.

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Stabilizing selection