Biology 100/101
Lecture 22:
Microevolution: Allele Frequencies

Text Readings
in Lewis
Review questions
Chapter 18
Chapter 20
Pg. 388: To Review;
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10
To Think About; 4 and 7
Pg. 420-1: To Review;
1, 3, 5, 6, and 7
To Think About; 3, 6 and 7

For feedback, post questions and ideas in the folder "Text 'Review' and 'To Think About' Questions" in the Biology Chat Section of Web Crossing.


Objectives
After studying this material you should be able to:

  1. Define evolution and describe biological evolution in terms of change in allele frequency in a population.

  2. Explain Darwin's main ideas concerning natural selection and evolution.

  3. Explain what "fitness" is and why it is necessary for judging the adaptiveness of a trait.

  4. Describe evolution as changes in allele frequency resulting from directional, stabilizing, and disruptive selection.

  5. Provide examples of evolution resulting from natural selection.

  6. Describe what is meant by artificial selection versus natural selection.

  7. Describe an example in which natural selection has affected the virulence and/or spread of a human disease.

Key Terms:
Understand the relationships among these terms:

biological evolutionartificial selectionnatural selection
microevolutionmacroevolutionallele frequencies
directional selectionstabilizing selectiondisruptive selection
genetic variationselective agentmutation
differential reproductionsexual selection"fitness"
adaptationbalanced polymorphismsexual dimorphism


Web Resources for Evolution

Extra Credit Discussion - Book Reviews of The Beak of the Finch
Some of your classmates are reading, reviewing, and discussing this book dealing with natural selection and evolution.


What is Evolution? Biological Evolution? Descent with Modification

BUGHUNT! - A computer model of natural selection.


Evolution is a fact (empirically measureable phenomenon).

Natural Selection is the mechanism by which evolution occurs (this is the theory part).


Main Ideas of Charles Darwin: Natural Selection as the Mechanism for Biological Evolution

Fitness:


Types of Natural Selection


Evolution and disease ("New" Diseases, Mutation, and Evolution of Resistance)


Natural Selection is One of Several Operating Mechanisms of Microevolution
Other factors are: