Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2
Natural Selection
&
Adaptation
Learning Outcome
1. To describe the concept of natural
selection and evolution
2. To explain the four pre-requisites for
natural selection
3. To distinguish between the types of
natural selection
NATURAL SELECTION
(Darwin & Wallace, 1853)
= Differential success of
individuals in a population within
a given environment.
What is Evolution?
Changes in any attribute of a population
over time (not individuals).
1. Variation
2. Reproductive Fitness
3. Mode of inheritance
4. Competition
1) Variation
Caused by:
i) Mutation : give rise to new variant traits
in populations.
(a) Directional selection shifts the (b) Disruptive selection favors variants (c) Stabilizing selection removes
overall makeup of the population by at both ends of the distribution. extreme variants from the population
favoring variants at one extreme of - These mice have colonized a patchy habitat and preserves intermediate types. If
the distribution. made up of light and dark rocks, with the the environment consists of rocks of
- In this case, darker mice are result that mice of an intermediate color are an intermediate color, both light and
favored because they live among at a disadvantage. dark mice will be selected against.
dark rocks and a darker fur color
conceals them from predators.
1) Directional selection
Favors individuals at one end of the phenotypic
range
2) Disruptive selection
Favors individuals at both extremes of the
phenotypic range
3) Stabilizing selection
Favors intermediate variants and acts against
extreme phenotypes
The result of SELECTION is that
organisms are adapted to their
environment