BSC 2011 Study Guide
Chapter 23
Chapter 23 – The Evolution of Populations
1. What is the smallest unit at which evolution occurs?
2. How do we define microevolution?
3. Importance of genetic variation to evolution? heritable variation vs. acquired traits
4. What are the sources of genetic variation?
5. How do we use Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium to test for evolutionary change? What factors upset genetic
equilibrium?
6. natural selections as an adaptive mechanism; What is relative fitness? 3 types of selection represented
graphically?
7. Adaptive evolution produces a “good match” to an organisms’ environment.
8. sexual selection and the “good genes” hypothesis
9. balancing selection – heterozygote advantage (example of sickle-cell anemia); frequency dependent selection
10. Why natural selection cannot fashion perfect organisms.
Key Terms – population, microevolution, genetic variation, mutation, neutral variation, gene pool, alleles, fixed
alleles, adaptive evolution, genetic drift, founder effect, bottleneck effect, gene flow, relative fitness, directional
selection, disruptive selection, stabilizing selection, sexual selection, sexual dimorphism, intrasexual selection,
intersexual selection, balancing selection, heterozygote advantage, frequency-dependent selection
Note: This study guide may not be all inclusive of material covered. Student is responsible for learning all material
covered in lecture.