Identify and describe the evolutionary forces that can cause allele frequencies to change from one generation to the next.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the evolutionary force of natural selection, which can cause allele frequencies to change by favoring alleles that confer a survival or reproductive advantage.
2. Consider genetic drift, a random process that can lead to changes in allele frequencies, especially in small populations, due to chance events.
3. Examine gene flow, which involves the movement of alleles between populations through migration, potentially altering allele frequencies.
4. Explore mutation, a source of new alleles, which can introduce genetic variation and change allele frequencies over time.
5. Discuss non-random mating, where certain alleles may become more common if individuals preferentially mate with others that have specific genotypes.

Key Concepts

Natural Selection

Natural selection is a process where individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to changes in allele frequencies over generations. This mechanism promotes the adaptation of populations to their environments, as advantageous alleles become more common while disadvantageous ones diminish.

Genetic Drift

Genetic drift refers to random fluctuations in allele frequencies within a population, particularly in small populations. This stochastic process can lead to the loss of genetic variation and can cause alleles to become fixed or lost purely by chance, independent of their adaptive value.

Gene Flow

Gene flow, or gene migration, is the transfer of alleles or genes from one population to another through migration. This process can introduce new genetic material into a population, altering allele frequencies and increasing genetic diversity, which can have significant evolutionary implications.