Term Definition

Gene pool Total sum of all the genetic information available for reproduction within the
population

Allele frequency Measurement of how often an allele appears

Outline how isolation of a gene pool can lead to evolution

- Initially isolated populations may have been genetically different
- Different mutations in two gene pools
- Different parts of population subject to different selective pressures
- Over time leads to changes in allele frequency
- May lead to reproductive isolation

Describe the importance of changes in allele frequency for the evolution

of one species into another
- Natural selective pressures result in survival of advantageous alleles
- Frequency of these alleles will increase through reproduction
- These alleles spread through population
- Basis for microevolution
- Over time many advantageous genes accumulate in a species
- When may changes occur some members of a species cannot successfully mate with others
- Reproductive isolation
- Results in evolution of a new species

Describe barrier between gene pools

- Temporal barrier
- Different populations mate at different times of year thus preventing interbreeding
- Allele frequencies become different in the two gene pools
- Behaviour barrier
- Different courtship behaviour, so no mating between two populations
- Mechanical barrier
- It occurs when physical differences prevent copulation or pollination

Compare allopathic speciation and sympatric speciation

- Both lead to formation of new species
- Allopatric occurs in a different geographical area whereas sympatric occurs in the same
geographical area
- Allopatric have physical barriers whereas sympatric have behavioural barriers
- Both lead to genetically isolated populations/gene pools

Explain how speciation can occur due to polyploidy

- Speciation is the process by which new species arise
- Chromosomes pairs fail to separate during meiosis
- Can lead to gametes with multiple of the normal chromosome number
- Polyploids may be well adapted to their environment
- Common in plants
- Polyploidy is a form of sympatric speciation
- Leading to reproductive isolation from parent species
- Polyploid individuals can interbreed with one another
- Breeding with original species leads to infertile hybrids

Discuss evolution by gradualism and punctuated equilibrium

- Both describe the rate of evolution
- Gradualism suggests that evolution occurs over long time
- Gradualism changes are slow over time
- Gradualism would occur when there is little change in the environment
- Punctuated equilibrium implies long periods with no change
- Punctuated equilibrium implies short periods with great change
- Punctuated equilibrium occurs when there are great changes in the environment
- Fossil record supports this: Lack of intermediate fossils
- e.g. Climate change
- Generally accepted that both ideas take place in evolution
- Some mutations had no physical effects so not visible in the fossil record

Explain how new species can emerge by

Directional selection
- Natural selection favours one end of the range of variation
- Progressive change in a population in that direction
- Species changes sufficiently over time to be regarded as a different species
- Isolated population subjected to directional selection while other parts of the species are not
- Isolated population eventually different enough not to interbreed
Disruptive selection
- Extreme types selected for
- Extreme types are adapted to different niches
- Reproductive barriers become established between extreme types
Polyploidy
- Having three or more sets of chromosomes
- Sometimes occurs due to an error in mitosis/meiosis
- Many new species formed as tetraploids
- Triploids are infertile