Adaptation, Variations, Mutations, and Selective Advantage (7.1) Adaptations: Is a structure, behaviour, or physiological course of action that increases an organism’s skill to survive and reproduce. Behavioural Adaptations - Affects the way an organism acts, concerning hunting, hibernating, mating rituals, etc. Structural Adaptations - Affect a specific feature of an organisms body Physiological Adaptations - special features of an organism that allows it to perform specialized functions Mimicry: a special type of adaptation that mimics an adaptation to another organism - Some species develop adaptations that give an lead, like being venomous, or savor ghastly Other species extend a way to show as if they have these variations Genetic Variation - the number of possible genes in an offspring can inherit from their parent can result in genetic variation Mutations: in DNA to a variation of traits within many individuals of a species. This variation of traits will allow some individuals to better adapt to the challenges passed by the environment. Those organisms that are better suited to their environment will survive to reproduce and pass on their traits. - A change in the content of genetic information An alteration in the genetic identity of an organism Can be a positive, negative or neutral change As environments change , having mutations can allow an organism continue life in that environment (selective advantage) Mutations are the only resource of genetic variation Selective advantages is a genetic advantage of one organism over its opponent It will assist an organism carry on the challenges of its environments to reproduce Selective Advantage: A genetic advantage that improves an organism’s chance of survival, usually in a changing environment. - the genetic advantage of one organism over its competitors improves an organism life mutation giving organisms an advantage over other organisms in environment over time, those with an advantage increase in population variation that serves organism well mutation that makes species more genetically diverse Hardy-Weinberg Mathematical Model Description: The frequency of all the dominant R and recessive r alleles equals the total frequency and adds up to 1.0 or 100% of the alleles present. (In other words, remains constant) The equation: (p + q) 2 = Frequency of allele types combinations p = frequency of dominant allele A (homozygous dominant) q = frequency of recessive allele a p2 + 2pq + q2 =1 Frequency of allele p2 = frequency of AA q2 = frequency of aa (homozygous recessive) 2pq = frequency of Aa (heterozygous) Helpful tips: 1. In most populations, the frequency of two alleles is calculated from the proportion of homozygous recessives (q2), since it is the only identifiable genotype directly from its phenotype. If only the dominant phenotype is known, q2 may be calculated (1-frequency of dominant phenotype). 2. All calculations must be carried out using proportions, not percentages.