Textbook Question
In what sense is the Hardy–Weinberg principle a null hypothesis?
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Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 23, Problem 4
True or false? Gene flow can either increase or decrease the average fitness of a population. Explain.
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True. Gene flow refers to the transfer of genetic material (alleles) between populations of the same species. It can occur through various means such as migration of individuals or gametes (e.g., pollen).
Gene flow can increase the average fitness of a population by introducing new alleles that may confer advantageous traits, which can help the population adapt to environmental changes or resist diseases.
Conversely, gene flow can decrease the average fitness of a population if the incoming alleles are maladaptive in the new environment, leading to a reduction in survival or reproduction rates of the population.
The overall effect of gene flow on fitness depends on the context, such as the specific traits of the incoming alleles and the environmental conditions of the population receiving these alleles.
Therefore, gene flow is a critical mechanism in evolution and biodiversity, influencing the genetic diversity and adaptability of populations.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Gene Flow
Gene flow refers to the transfer of genetic material between populations through migration of individuals or gametes. This process can introduce new alleles into a population, potentially altering its genetic diversity. It plays a crucial role in evolution by affecting the genetic structure of populations and can influence traits that contribute to fitness.
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Gene Flow
Average Fitness
Average fitness is a measure of how well a population can survive and reproduce in its environment. It is determined by the reproductive success of individuals and the traits they possess. Changes in average fitness can result from various factors, including natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow, which can either enhance or diminish the population's adaptability.
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02:57Adaptation Improves Fitness
Impact of Gene Flow on Fitness
Gene flow can have varying effects on the average fitness of a population. It can increase fitness by introducing beneficial alleles that enhance survival and reproduction. Conversely, it may decrease fitness if maladaptive traits are introduced, leading to a dilution of local adaptations. Thus, the overall impact of gene flow on fitness is context-dependent, influenced by the specific traits involved and the environmental conditions.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Why isn't inbreeding considered an evolutionary process?
a. It does not change genotype frequencies.
b. It does not change allele frequencies.
c. It does not occur often enough to be important in evolution.
d. It does not violate the assumptions of the Hardy–Weinberg principle.
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Textbook Question
Why is genetic drift aptly named? Select True or False for each statement.
T/F It causes allele frequencies to drift up or down randomly.
T/F It occurs when alleles from one population drift into another.
T/F It occurs when mutations drift into a genome.
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Textbook Question
In a population of 2500, how many babies would you expect to have cystic fibrosis, a homozygous recessive condition, if the frequency of the dominant allele is 0.9 and the population is at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium?
a. 0.9 × 2500 = 2250
b. 2 × 0.9 × 0.1 × 2500 = 450
c. 0.9 × 0.1 × 2500 = 225
d. 0.1 x 0.1 x 2500 = 25
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Textbook Question
In the 1700s and 1800s, royalty in Europe often married their close relatives; furthermore, recessive genetic diseases such as hemophilia showed up much more often among royals than in the general population. Explain the likely connection.
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Textbook Question
Determine what is incorrect in the following statement: Deer mice living on beaches mutated their genes so that they could have white fur color, providing better camouflage to survive on beaches.
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