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Population Biology
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Population Biology
Biology
SIH1001
GENETIC DRIFT
• The smaller the population, the less genetic variety it has.
• In a very small population, alleles can be lost from one
generation to the next, simply by random chance.
• When a population evolves only because of this type of
random sampling error, GENETIC DRIFT is taking place.
• Population bottleneck—an
environmental event results in
survival of only a few individuals.
• Genetic drift can change allele
frequencies.
• Populations that go through
bottlenecks loose much of their
genetic variation.
Founder effect—genetic drift changes
allele frequencies when a few individuals
colonize a new area.
Natural Selection Vs Genetic Drift
► Natural selection accounts only for the positive ► Genetic drift accounts for all changes in the
changes in the genome that may give its genome that may be advantageous,
possessor an adaptive advantage; deleterious, or may have no effect on its
possessor.
► Natural selection is usually driven as response ►. Genetic drift, on the other hand, is
to an organism’s adaptation to environmental completely random and is solely based on
challenges luck.
► Natural selection will always result in the ► genetic drift may cause advantageous
selection of allele that give an advantage to its genes to be removed in the following
possessor generations.
► Natural selection will always result in ► Genetic drift may sometimes lead to the
introducing more genetic variations in a reduction of genetic variations and fixation of
population. alleles.
► Genetic drift is largely influenced by the population
size, whereas natural selection is not.
G e n e Flow
Migration of individuals between 2 populations of the same species‐ transfer
of genetic material between populations resulting from the movement of
individuals (migration) or their gametes.
As long as the individual can move between 2 populations, the populations
remain the same species because they share genetic information.
Gene flow may add new alleles to a population or change the frequencies of
alleles already present
Gene flow connects the populations of a species (new alleles passed between 2
populations), enabling them to evolve collectively (as a unit).
• Tr a n s f e r of a l l e l e f r o m o n e p o p u l a t i o n to a n o t h e r
• H i g h g e n e flow r a t e s – i n c r e a s e h o m o g e n e i t y
Gene flow: implications
• Gene flow reduces inbreeding
depression: migration rates into small
populations are higher than into large
populations
• Gene flow may create heterosis or
'hybrid vigour,' which is manifested as
increased size, growth rate or other
parameters resulting from the increase
in heterozygosity
• Gene flow between species (or
hybridization) may result in Hybrid corn
outbreeding depression
Genetic Drift Vs Gene Flow
► Although, the migration of alleles is observed in the founder effect, it must
be noted that unlike in gene flow, where individuals migrate from one
population to another, the individuals of a population migrate to a
geographical region that is not inhabited by any other population.
G e n e Flow – M i g r a t i o n of g e n e f r o m o n e p o p u l a t i o n to
another
G e n e t i c Drift – I n d i v i d u a l of p o p u l a t i o n m o v e to a
g e o g r a p h i c a l r e g i o n that is n o t i n h a b i t e d b y a n y
population
Gene Flow VS Natural Selection
► Natural selection strives to bring about speciation (give rise to a new species)
by increasing the genetic variations in the population, whereas a constant gene
flow between two populations is usually required to maintain homogeneity of
the alleles in the population.
*Despite the differences in their mechanisms (Genetic drift, Gene flow, Natural
Selection), these processes are constantly and simultaneously occurring in
nature to drive evolution in the forward direction.
T h e connection b e t w e e n
G e n e t i c Drift a n d G e n e Flow
T h e effect of g e n e t i c drift c a n b e
o v e r c o m e b y g e n e flow
If e n o u g h i n d i v i d u a l s a r e e x c h a n g e d
b e t w e e n 2 p o p u l a t i o n s e x p e r i e n c e
g e n e t i c drift, t h e n t h e drifting p o p u l a t i o n
c a n b e c o m e g e n e t i c a l l y l i n ke d a n d
p o p u l a t i o n s u b d i v i s i o n will not o c c u r
Specify whether the given scenario is an example of Natural
Selection, Genetic Drift, or Neither
a. The new seal population is genetically less diverse than
the original population
b. The new seal population is genetically more diverse
than the original population
c. There is equal genetic variety compared to the original
population
d. None of the answers
Which of the following is true?
a. Gene pool frequencies do not change as a result of
migration in or out of a population.
b. Gene flow occurs only as a result of isolation of a small
population.
c. Gene flow can cause new alleles to enter a population's
gene pool.
d. Gene flow is due the the selection of the most favorable
traits.
What is the name of the process in which the most
favourable traits are passed onto the next generation?
a. Genetic drift
b. Gene pool
c. Gene flow
d. Natural selection
Which of the following is an example of the bottle
neck effect?
a. Bald Eagles are hunted until near extinction,
population recovers.
b. Small group of iguanas floats to an island, starts a new
population.
c. Red fox pups are more likely to survive in a snowy
environment if they are born white.
d. Farmer chooses seeds from largest apples to plant
next year. This results in larger apples from year to
year.
Which of the following is true of genetic drift?
a. It can decrease genetic diversity in a population
b. It is necessary in order for a population to be in
equilibrium
c. It can increase genetic diversity in a population
d. It plays a much larger role in determining the genetic
makeup of populations than natural selection
After birds eat fruits, they drop seeds through their
droppings, often in different locations. For example, a
migrating bird could carry an apple seed from Georgia to
an orchard in Tennessee.
a. Natural Selection
b. Genetic Drift
c. Gene Flow
d. Speciation