L.  B.    /  2023  –  2024      

SVT  2nde  /  Chapter  4  
 
«  Mechanisms  of  Evolution  »  

In  nature,  populations  are  usually  evolving.  The  grass  in  an  open  meadow,  the  wolves  in  a  forest,  
and  even  the  bacteria  in  a  person's  body  are  all  natural  populations.  And  all  of  these  populations  
are  likely  to  be  evolving  for  at  least  some  of  their  genes.  All  evolution  means  is  that  a  population  
is  changing  in  its  genetic  makeup  over  generations.  
 

 
 
 
A-­‐   The  Action  of  Genetic  Drift  (La  Dérive  Génétique)  on  Populations  
 
In  a  natural  environment,  over  generations,  the  genetic  composition  of  populations  changes  
without  any  apparent  link  to  environmental  constraints.

-­‐   Genetic   drift   is   a   random   change   in   the   frequency   of   alleles*   in   a   population   over  
successive   generations.   It   occurs   more   rapidly   when   the   population   size   is   small   (the  
smaller  the  number  of  individuals  in  a  population,  the  greater  the  genetic  drift).  
 
-­‐   The  *allele  frequency  is  the  number  of  individual  alleles  of  a  certain  type,  divided  by  the  
total  number  of  alleles  of  all  types  in  a  population.  In  simple  terms,  the  allele  frequency  
describes  how  common  an  allele  is  within  a  population.  
 
-­‐   The  diversity  index  is  the  mathematical  expression  of  the  species  diversity  of  a  given  
community  or  area.  

 
1
    L.  B.    /  2023  –  2024      
SVT  2nde  /  Chapter  4  
 

B-­‐   The  Action  of  Natural  Selection  on  Populations  

 
Natural  selection  is  the  result  of  environmental  pressure  and  interactions  between  organisms.    
This  pressure  favors  certain  individuals  in  the  population  (better  survival,  better  reproduction)  
and   the   alleles   they   carry.   This   leads   to   the   fact   that   some   individuals   will   have   more   offspring  
than   others   under   certain   conditions.   Their   alleles   will   therefore   become   more   frequent   in   the  
next  generation.  
 

2
    L.  B.    /  2023  –  2024      
SVT  2nde  /  Chapter  4  

C-­‐   Formation  of  New  Species  

-­‐   A   population   can   divide   into   subpopulations   over   time.   By   natural   selection   and/or  
genetic  drift,  these  subpopulations  accumulate  genetic  differences.  
-­‐   When  these  differences  are  such  that  individuals  from  two  sub-­‐populations  can  no  longer  
reproduce  with  each  other,  each  sub-­‐population  forms  a  new  species:  this  is  speciation.  

 
 
 
D-­‐   Evolution:  From  Facts  to  Theory  

-­‐   Based  on  many  observable  and  verifiable  facts,  Charles  Darwin  proposed  the  theory  of  
natural  selection  in  1859.  
-­‐   Other   works   have   since   complemented   Darwin's   to   arrive   at   the   current   theory   of  
evolution,  which  plays  a  central  role  in  the  life  sciences.  
 

3
    L.  B.    /  2023  –  2024      
SVT  2nde  /  Chapter  4  
L'ESSENTIEL PAR L'IMAGE
 
L'ESSENTIEL PAR L'IMAGE  

End of Chapter 4.

4
© Belin Éducation / Humensis, 2023