Glossary Microevolution

Hardy- Allele frequencies stay the same over the generations when there is no
Weinberg rule mutation, the population is infinitely large and isolated from other
populations of the species, mating is random, and all individuals are
reproducing equally and randomly.
allele One of two or more molecular forms of a gene that arise by mutation and
code for different versions of the same trait.
allele For a given gene locus, the relative abundances of each kind of allele
frequency among all the individuals of a population.
balanced Form of selection in which two or more alleles for a trait are being
polymorphism maintained in a population over time.
biogeography Scientific study of the world distribution of species.
bottleneck Severe reduction in the size of a population, brought about by intense
selection pressure or a natural calamity.
comparative [Gk. morph, form] Scientific study of comparable body parts of adults or
morphology embryonic stages of major lineages.
directional Mode of natural selection by which allele frequencies underlying a range
selection of phenotypic variation shift in a consistent direction, in response to
directional change or to new conditions in the environment.
disruptive Mode of natural selection by which the different forms of a trait at both
selection ends of the range of variation are favored and intermediate forms are
selected against.
evolution, [L. evolutio, unrolling] Genetic change in a line of descent. Outcome of
biological microevolutionary events: gene mutation, natural selection, genetic drift,
and gene flow.
fitness Increase in adaptation to environment, as brought about by genetic
change.
fixation Loss of all but one kind of allele at a gene locus for all individuals in a
population.
fossil Recognizable, physical evidence of an organism that lived in the distant
past.
founder effect A form of bottlenecking. By chance alone, a few individuals that establish
a new population have allele frequencies that differ from those of the
original population.
gene flow Microevolutionary process; alleles enter and leave a population as an
outcome of immigration and emigration, respectively.
gene pool All genotypes in a population.
genetic drift Change in allele frequencies over the generations due to chance alone. Its
effect is most pronounced in very small populations.
genetic In theory, a state in which a population is not evolving. These conditions
equilibrium are met: no mutation, very large size, isolation from others of the species,
no natural selection (all members reproduce, by random mating).
inbreeding Nonrandom mating among close relatives that share many identical

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lethal mutation Mutation with drastic effects on phenotype; usually causes death.
microevolution Of a population, any change in allele frequencies resulting from mutation,
genetic drift, gene flow, natural selection, or some combination of these.
mutation rate Of a gene locus, the probability that a spontaneous mutation will occur
during or between DNA replication cycles.
natural Microevolutionary process; the outcome of differences in survival and
selection reproduction among individuals that differ in details of heritable traits.
neutral A mutation with little or no effect on phenotype, so natural selection can't
mutation change its frequency in a population.
polymorphism [Gk. polus, many, + morphe, form] The persistence of two or more
qualitatively different forms of a trait (morphs) in a population.
population All individuals of the same species that are occupying a specified area.
sampling error Use of a sample or subset of a population, an event, or some other aspect
of nature for an experimental group that is not large enough to be
representative of the whole.
sexual Occurrence of female and male phenotypes among the individuals of a
dimorphism sexually reproducing species.
sexual A microevolutionary process; a type of selection that favors a trait giving
selection an individual a competitive edge in attracting or keeping a mate (favors
reproductive success).
stabilizing Mode of natural selection by which intermediate phenotypes in the range
selection of variation are favored and extremes at both ends are eliminated.
uniformity Theory that Earth's surface changes in slow, uniformly repetitive ways
theory except for catastrophes that occur annually, such as large earthquakes
and floods. Helped change Darwin's view of evolution. Has since been
replaced by plate tectonics theory.

Website of Interest:

Natural Selection and Genetic Drift Modeling Exercise (University of Tennessee at

Martin)

http://fmc.utm.edu/~rirwin/NatSelModIntro.htm