1. Shaping evolutionary theory
Chapter 15 Section 3
Shaping evolutionary theory

2. Mechanisms of Evolution
First, although not a “mechanism” it’s the basis for the defined mechanisms, the Hardy-Weinberg principle.
When allelic frequencies remain constant, a population is in genetic equilibrium.
Ex: although the number of owls doubled, the ratio of gray to red owls is the same.

3. Slide 2 continued
To be in equilibrium, the population must meet 5 conditions (in other words the population must not have any of the 5 mechanisms of evolutionary theory going on):
1. no genetic drift
2. no gene flow
3. no mutation
4. mating must be random
5. no natural selection
*populations in nature might meat some of these requirements, but hardly any population meets all 5 conditions for long periods of time.

4. Mechanisms of Evolution: genetic drift
What’s an allele again? It’s an alternative form that a single gene may have for a particular trait.
Any change in the allelic frequencies (# of each kind of allele in the population) that results from chance.
These effects are more pronounced in smaller populations.

5. Mechanisms of Evolution: genetic drift continued
Founder Effect- small sample of a population settles in a location separated from the rest of the population.
Alleles that were uncommon in the original population might become common in the new population
Bottleneck- population declines to a very low # then rebounds.

6. Mechanisms Video: 5 Fingers of Evolution
Pinky- Shrinking Population (aka genetic drift- which is more pronounced in a smaller population- founder effect & bottleneck
Ring- Nonrandom Mating
Middle- Mutation
Pointer- Gene Flow
Thumb (up/down)- natural selection

7. Mechanisms of Evolution: Gene Flow
Mechanism of evolution
Can occur during migration of individuals from one population to another
When the migrating individuals breed with the new population, they contribute their genes to the gene pool of the local population
Makes gene pools of the same species more similar to one another
Ex: wind carrying seeds from parent population to another population,
Ex: animals driven off of herd join a new population

8. Mechanisms of Evolution: Nonrandom Mating
Mechanism of Evolution
What would completely random mating look like? Individuals regardless of environment, heredity, or social interaction. Potential mates have an equal chance of being selected. As long as mating was random and no other mechanisms of evolution were happening, no evolution would occur in this population.
The result of nonrandom mating is that some individuals have more opportunity to mate than others and thus produce more offspring (and more copies of their genes) than others. It is simply easier to mate with a nearby individual, as opposed to one that is farther away. Also, especially in animals, individuals compete for mates and active selection of mating partners occurs. This goes directly against the concept of randomness.

9. Mechanisms of Evolution: Mutation
Mechanism of evolution
Mutation, a driving force of evolution, is a random change in an organism’s genetic makeup, which influences the population’s gene pool.
Mutations give rise to new alleles; therefore, they are a source of genetic variation in a population.
Mutations may be harmful or benign, but they may also be beneficial.

10. Mechanisms of Evolution: Natural Selection
Mechanism of evolution
Individuals in a population are not equally adapted to the environment
Best traits survive
Types of natural selection
Directional
Stabilizing
Disruptive
Sexual