Evolution Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Evolution Questions - Assignment Example When meiosis occurs, genes are segregated at random and events such as crossing over can occur, which causes increased genetic variation. In larger populations, the allelic combinations typically stay stable over time. However, in smaller populations, any type of variation or production of one gene over another due to chance can have a large change in the gene pool frequencies. The most useful way to think about this concept is in terms of the Hardy Weinberg Equation, which is a quadratic formula that calculates the genetic frequencies of the homozygous dominant, homozygous recessive, and heterozygous expressions. The Hardy Weinberg Equation uses the letters P and Q in order to addresses the alleles for a population with homozygous dominant being p2, homozygous recessive being q2, and heterozygous being pq. Normally, in a standard population and statistically valid population, the ratios would be the same. Like stated above there are multiple factors, which can then affect the ratio of these allelic frequencies. Some of the organisms may survive due to supremacy of the traits they expressed or the randomness of gamete formation may lead to an unproportional expression in traits. For example, lets consider a population which has allelic frequencies of p=0.3 and q=0.7. ... This is because a statistical change in allelic frequencies in a smaller population due to chance has a larger and more significant effect because the population, N, is smaller. Therefore, the effect size is larger. The reason that it is not as powerful in populations with a large N value is because it is thought that the chance of one allelic combination being produced over the other is negligible, therefore they cancel out which shows that there is no real resulting chance in the frequencies of the gene pool. DNA replication is a process, which is ongoing at every moment in every organism. It is important in order to ensure that the structure of the genetic code remains viable for reproduction, however the code becomes more disrupted every time that it is replicated. These mistakes are mutations, which occur in the replication of DNA can cause either desirable or undesirable traits to form. This is one of the basis in which evolution is thought to occur. Different types of mutation s have different effects on evolution. Replacement mutations are much lower than substitution mutations. These are thought to effect neutral genes, which remain structurally similar over time. Substitution mutations are thought to happen in genes that are dynamic and are quick changing in that this is the main mutation, which promotes the most genetic variation. Conservation biology is the field of biology that is directed specifically at understanding and protecting the biodiversity of the Earth. Understanding the role and relationship of species in their habitats and ecosystems does this. Specifically, Templeton was concerned with the human activity, which was having an affect on genetic variation of the collared lizards in the