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An Evolving Enemy
Chapter 12, Problem 8

Since the modern synthesis, the technical definition of evolution is a change in allele frequency in a population over the course of generations.
a. Traits, species
b. Allele frequency, population
c. Natural selection, natural environment
d. Adaptations, single organism
e. Fitness, population

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the question. The problem is asking for the technical definition of evolution as defined by the modern synthesis. This involves identifying the correct terms that fit into the blanks in the sentence provided.
Step 2: Recall the modern synthesis definition of evolution. It is defined as a change in allele frequency within a population over generations. This definition integrates Darwin's theory of natural selection with Mendelian genetics.
Step 3: Analyze the options provided. Each option pairs two terms, and you need to determine which pair aligns with the modern synthesis definition of evolution.
Step 4: Match the correct terms to the blanks. The first blank should describe what is changing (allele frequency), and the second blank should describe where this change occurs (population).
Step 5: Verify the answer by substituting the terms into the sentence: 'Evolution is a change in allele frequency in a population over the course of generations.' This matches the technical definition provided by the modern synthesis.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Evolution

Evolution is defined as the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. It is driven by mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation, leading to the adaptation of species to their environments. Understanding evolution is crucial for grasping how species develop and diversify over time.
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Introduction to Evolution of Populations

Allele Frequency

Allele frequency refers to how often a particular allele appears in a population's gene pool. It is a key measure in population genetics, indicating the genetic diversity of a population and how it changes over time due to evolutionary processes. Changes in allele frequency can result from natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.
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Allele Frequencies

Natural Selection

Natural selection is a process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This mechanism is a fundamental concept of evolution, explaining how certain traits become more common in a population over generations. It emphasizes the role of environmental pressures in shaping the genetic makeup of populations.
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Natural Selection
Related Practice
Textbook Question

The best definition of evolutionary fitness is:

a. Physical health

b. The ability to attract members of the opposite sex

c. The ability to adapt to the environment

d. Survival and reproduction relative to other members of the population

e. Overall strength

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Textbook Question

An adaptation is a trait of an organism that increases:

a. Its fitness

b. Its ability to survive and replicate

c. In frequency in a population over many generations

d. A and B are correct

e. A, B, and C are correct

4112
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Textbook Question

The heritable differences among organisms are a result of:

a. Differences in their DNA

b. Mutation

c. Differences in alleles

d. A and B are correct

e. A, B, and C are correct

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Textbook Question

Ivory from elephant tusks is a valuable commodity on the world market. As a result, male African elephants with large tusks have been heavily hunted for the past few centuries. Today, male elephants have significantly shorter tusks at full adulthood than male elephants in the early 1900s. This is an example of:

a. Diversifying selection

b. Stabilizing selection

c. Directional selection

d. Chance

e. More than one of the above is correct

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Textbook Question

Antibiotic resistance is becoming common among organisms that cause a variety of human diseases. All of the following strategies help reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance evolving in a susceptible bacterial population except:

a. Using antibiotics only when appropriate, for bacterial infections that are not clearing up naturally

b. Using the drugs as directed, taking all the antibiotic over the course of days prescribed

c. Using more than one antibiotic at a time for difficult-to-treat organisms

d. Preventing natural selection by reducing the amount of evolution the organisms can perform

e. Reducing the use of antibiotics in non–health-care settings, such as agriculture

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