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Putting it All Together quiz

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  • What does the Hardy-Weinberg equation p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1 predict in a population?
    It predicts the expected genotype frequencies in a population based on allele frequencies.
  • What are the five main assumptions of the Hardy-Weinberg principle?
    The five assumptions are random mating, no mutation, no natural selection, infinite (or very large) population size, and no gene flow.
  • How does non-random mating affect genotype and allele frequencies?
    Non-random mating changes genotype frequencies but does not change allele frequencies.
  • What is inbreeding and what effect does it have on a population?
    Inbreeding is mating between close relatives, and it increases homozygosity, which can lead to inbreeding depression.
  • How do mutations affect genetic variation in a population?
    Mutations increase genetic variation by introducing new alleles into the population.
  • What is the effect of natural selection on allele frequencies?
    Natural selection increases the frequency of alleles that enhance survival and reproduction, often reducing genetic variation.
  • Describe directional selection and its effect on a population.
    Directional selection favors one extreme phenotype, shifting the population's average phenotype in one direction.
  • What is stabilizing selection and what does it do to phenotypic variation?
    Stabilizing selection favors the average phenotype and removes extremes, reducing phenotypic variation.
  • How does disruptive selection influence genetic variation?
    Disruptive selection favors both extreme phenotypes, maintaining or increasing genetic variation.
  • What is balancing selection and name two types of it.
    Balancing selection maintains multiple alleles in a population; two types are frequency-dependent selection and heterozygote advantage.
  • How does genetic drift affect genetic variation, especially in small populations?
    Genetic drift reduces genetic variation due to random changes in allele frequencies, and its effects are stronger in small populations.
  • What is the founder effect in the context of genetic drift?
    The founder effect occurs when a new population is started by a few individuals, carrying only a subset of the original population's alleles.
  • What is a population bottleneck and how does it impact genetic diversity?
    A population bottleneck is a sudden reduction in population size, which increases genetic drift and reduces genetic diversity.
  • What is gene flow and how does it affect populations?
    Gene flow is the movement of alleles between populations, increasing genetic variation within populations and reducing differences between them.
  • Why is Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium rarely observed in natural populations?
    Because one or more of its assumptions are often violated, causing allele and genotype frequencies to change over time.