Mechanisms of Evolution

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What is Gene Flow?

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Gene Flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations, often through migration, which can introduce new alleles and increase genetic diversity.

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Why are mutations important in evolution?

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Mutations are important because they introduce genetic variation needed for a population to evolve.

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What is Divergent Evolution?

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Divergent Evolution occurs when two or more related species become more dissimilar over time, often due to different environmental pressures.

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What is Speciation?

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Speciation is the process by which new species arise from pre-existing species, often due to genetic divergence.

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What is the ultimate cause of most mass extinctions?

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The ultimate cause of most mass extinctions is major changes in the environment due to extreme natural events.

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What is Natural Selection?

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Natural Selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What is Genetic Drift?

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Genetic Drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population, often having a more significant effect in small populations.

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What is Convergent Evolution?

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Convergent Evolution occurs when unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

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What is Adaptation?

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Adaptation is a trait that increases an organism's fitness in its environment, often developed through the process of natural selection.

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What is the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium?

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The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is a principle that describes a non-evolving population where allele frequencies remain constant over generations.