EVOLUTION

 

 

• Provide 3 examples of how human activity is directly influencing the evolution of (non-domesticated) species

1) Biologists often describe evolution as a change in the frequency of alleles in a population. How does this definition relate to the process of natural selection?

 

This relates to natural selection because there are certain alleles that are favoured by the environment. The allele that is beneficial to the organism will be passed on to the offspring and  the frequency of the occurrence of the allele would increase. That would mean that natural selection favours certain alleles over others. 

 

5) Which type of selection led to the following characteristics:

a)Hollow and very lightweight bones in birds

Directional

 

b)Hundreds of different but genetically very similar species of fruit flies living in the Hawaiian Islands

Disruptive

 

c) Turtles species that have changed little over millions of years

Stabilizing

 

d)Males of many frog species that call every spring while females are silent 

Sexual

 

 

13) In each of the following situations, based on the Hardy-Weinberg principle, determine whether or not evolution would be expected to take place. Explain your choice.

a)A very large population of mosquitoes lives in a stable environment

Mosquitoes don’t have to evolve because according to the Hardy-Weinberg Principle natural selection favours the passing on of some alleles over others. The mosquito may already have favourable traits because it lives in a stable environment. 

 

b)A small population of lizards inhibits a remote island.

The lizard population would evolve with genetic drift because it states that Small population size increases the likelihood of genetic drift.

 

c)Climate change influences the flowering time of a species of wildflower.

Evolution would take place because climate change influences the flowering time of the wildflower. The new climate would favour certain flowering times.

 

 

 

14) Provide 3 examples of how human activity is directly influencing the evolution of (non-domesticated) species.

One example is when humans are destroying land and take it over. That forces animals to relocate and forces them to grow up in a new environment which may lead to evolution. Another example is the use of anti-biotic which forced viruses to evolve and become resistant to the anti-biotic. The third example is climate change which forces animals to migrate and if the new environment doesn’t favour certain traits, then that may lead to evolution.