POPULATION SIZE ON GENETIC VARIATION ON A BEETLE POPULATION
THE EFFECTS OF PREDATOR PREFERENCE AND POPULATION SIZE GENETIC VARIATION IN A BEETLE POPULATION
NAME: Ivy Baaba Koufie
STUDENT NUMBER: 212565669
LAB: N6
TA: Thomas Van Zuiden
DATE: February 17th 2014
INTRODUCTION The quantity and relative frequency of ales present in a population is known as Genetic Variation. It is essential for a population because without genetic variation there is a decline in fitness of a population which results in a decline in the ability to survive different environments, adaptability, disease resistance and hinders processes that bring about evolution (Lacy 1997). Allele frequency is the abundance of one allele relative to other allele(s) of the same genetic locus.(Russell et al. 2010). Genetic Variation is not stagnant. It is affected by many types evolutionary agents alter allele frequency in a population and eventually changes Genetic Variation by reducing or enhancing it (Russell et al. 2010). It is very essential then to have a total understanding about how evolutionary agents affect Genetic Variation. Some studies have been conducted to note the effects of types of evolutionary agents on Genetic Variation. Any change in the genetic code of an organism, known as mutation, is an evolutionary agent which enhances Genetic Variation by bringing about new alleles.(Hoffman and Parsons 1997). Genetic Variation is also affected by Natural Selection (Charlesworth 2009). Natural Selection is a non-random process where certain strain results in organisms within a population with certain heritable traits to give rise more children than organisms without the traits which alters the allele frequency of a population and causes evolution to (Amor and Harwood 1998). Natural selection can mold the Genetic Variation a population (Charleswoth 2009). For example, Genetic Variation can be impacted by the selective pressure of competition for food (Weider et al. 2008). Studies conducted
NAME: Ivy Baaba Koufie
STUDENT NUMBER: 212565669
LAB: N6
TA: Thomas Van Zuiden
DATE: February 17th 2014
INTRODUCTION The quantity and relative frequency of ales present in a population is known as Genetic Variation. It is essential for a population because without genetic variation there is a decline in fitness of a population which results in a decline in the ability to survive different environments, adaptability, disease resistance and hinders processes that bring about evolution (Lacy 1997). Allele frequency is the abundance of one allele relative to other allele(s) of the same genetic locus.(Russell et al. 2010). Genetic Variation is not stagnant. It is affected by many types evolutionary agents alter allele frequency in a population and eventually changes Genetic Variation by reducing or enhancing it (Russell et al. 2010). It is very essential then to have a total understanding about how evolutionary agents affect Genetic Variation. Some studies have been conducted to note the effects of types of evolutionary agents on Genetic Variation. Any change in the genetic code of an organism, known as mutation, is an evolutionary agent which enhances Genetic Variation by bringing about new alleles.(Hoffman and Parsons 1997). Genetic Variation is also affected by Natural Selection (Charlesworth 2009). Natural Selection is a non-random process where certain strain results in organisms within a population with certain heritable traits to give rise more children than organisms without the traits which alters the allele frequency of a population and causes evolution to (Amor and Harwood 1998). Natural selection can mold the Genetic Variation a population (Charleswoth 2009). For example, Genetic Variation can be impacted by the selective pressure of competition for food (Weider et al. 2008). Studies conducted
References: Amos W, Harwood J. 1998. Factors affecting levels of genetic diversity in natural populations. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 353(1366):177-186. Charlesworth B Godin JGJ, McDonough HE. 2003. Predator preference for brightly colored males in the guppy: a viability cost for a sexually selected trait. Behav Ecol. 14(2):194-200. Hoffmann AA, Parsons PA. 1997. Extreme Environmental Change and Evolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Lacy RC. 1997. Importance of Genetic Variation to the Viability of Mammalian Populations. J Mammal. 78(2):320-335. Russell PJ, Wolfe SL, Hertz PE, Starr C, Fenton MB, Addy H, Maxwell D, Haffie T, Davey K Vergeer P, Rengelink R, Ouborg NJ, Roelofs JGM. 2003. Effects of population size and genetic variation on the response ofSuccisa pratensis to eutrophication and acidification. J Ecol. 91(4):600-609. Weider LJ, Jeyasingh PD, Looper KG