Unit Five Review Questions (ESP)

Front

What is Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Back

A principle that describes the genetic variation in a population that is not evolving. It requires certain conditions: no mutations, random mating, no natural selection, large population size, and no gene flow.

Front

What condition is NOT required for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Back

Small populations are not required for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Front

What is a source of genetic variation?

Back

Mutations are a source of genetic variation, introducing new alleles into a population.

Front

What genetic disorder provides an advantage against malaria?

Back

Sickle cell disease provides a survival advantage in malaria-endemic regions.

Front

What is a potential benefit of genetically modified (GM) plants?

Back

Increased nutritional value is a potential benefit of GM plants.

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

A process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Front

Define genetic drift.

Back

Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population.

Front

What is gene flow?

Back

Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can increase genetic diversity.

Front

Explain the concept of fitness in evolutionary biology.

Back

Fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Front

What is the significance of a population's carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain, affecting resource availability.