Topic 9: Natural Selection

Sources of Genetic Variation

1.Mutation: Random change in the DNA of a gene

2.Recombination: new allele combination in offspring

2

Normal Distribution
It has a shape often referred to as a "bell curve."
3

3 Modes of Selection
Directional Selection: increases the expression of an extreme version of a trait in
a population.

For example: Most of the moths had light-colored wings, but dark moths started to
appear. Because moths live against tree barks, years later, most of the moths were
dark. Thus, more dark moths survived, adding more genes for dark color to the
population.
There are 3 patterns we see in terms of how natural selection changes the frequency
distribution of different traits that will be covered on the next few slides –
directional, disruptive, and stabilizing.
4

3 Modes of Selection
Disruptive Selection: a process that splits a population into two groups; removes
individuals with average traits and favors the 2 extremes.
For example: Snakes that live on rocks and are grey will survive. Snakes that live
on grass and are green will survive. Snakes that have an intermediate coloring
would be disadvantaged because it would be more visible to predators.
5

3 Modes of Selection
Stabilizing Selection: eliminates extremes of a trait when the average expression
leads to higher fitness.

For example: Human babies born with below-normal and above-normal birth weights
have lower chances of survival than babies born with average weights. Therefore,
birth weight varies little in human populations.
6

Mutations
Natural Selection
Genetic Drift
Gene Flow
Non-random Mating (Sexual Selection)
Microevolution is evolution on a small scale, affecting just ONE population.
Mechanisms of Microevolution
7

Mechanisms of Microevolution
Mutation = any change in a DNA sequence.
Creates new genotypes and thus new phenotypes.
Changes the allele frequency in a population (how common the allele is in the gene
pool).
Mutations
Increases variation, which is a driving force of evolution.
Can be harmful, beneficial, or neutral.

You can explain how inherently in any population, there is going to be some
variation, usually due to mutation.

An example is in bacteria. Some will genetically have some resistance to

antibiotics, and thus antibiotic resistance can occur. I get into this WAY MORE in
the Pathogens Mini-Unit if you want to dive deeper with your students – it works
well after this unit!
8

Mechanisms of Microevolution
Natural selection = organisms more fit for their environments will survive and
reproduce more offspring.
Beneficial traits (adaptations) will thus become more common over time.
Natural Selection
This is a REVIEW because we have already covered natural selection in detail!! I
like to mention Darwin’s finches as an example!

I would pick one of these videos to show my students here!

~14 min video about sickle cell anemia and resistance to malaria – an example of
natural selection in humans:
https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/making-fittest-natural-
selection-humans

~19 min video about a theory about the evolution of different skin colors:
https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/biology-skin-color
9

Mechanisms of Microevolution
Genetic drift = random change in the frequency of alleles in a population over
time.
Rare alleles in a population will decrease in frequency, while others increase.
Often results in a loss of genetic variation.
Changes seen in smaller populations.
Genetic Drift
Ex. If by chance only the circled flowers get to reproduce, look what could happen
to the population over time!
Examples of Genetic Drift:

Founder Effect
Loss of genetic diversity when a new population is founded by a very small group of
colonizers
Ex. Polydactyl in the Amish population
Population Bottleneck
When an environmental event results in only a few individuals surviving, and the
loss of a lot of genetic variation.
Ex. Northern elephant seals that went almost extinct (down to only 30!!) due to
hunting in the 1890s.
10

Examples of Genetic Drift

Founder Effect
Loss of genetic diversity when a new population is founded by a very small group of
colonizers
Ex. Polydactyl in the Amish population
11

Examples of Genetic Drift

Bottleneck Effect
When an environmental event results in only a few individuals surviving, and the
loss of genetic variation.

12

Problems with Genetic Drift

Populations loses genetic variation = harder to adapt to changing environment

Lethal alleles in homozygous individuals may be carried by heterozygous

individuals.
Lethal alleles: cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia, and achondroplasia
13

Mechanisms of Microevolution
Gene flow = movement of genes into/out of a population.
Occurs during migration.
Results in an increase in genetic variation in the population.
Gene Flow
14

Mechanisms of Microevolution

Certain traits increase reproductive success

Intrasexual selection: direct competition between members of the same sex
Intersexual selection: when one sex chooses a mate from the opposite sex based on
certain traits

Sexual Selection AKA non-random mating

The male peacock is a classic example of this, but I personally have always loved
the long-tailed widowbird too!

Great YouTube clip about the sexual selection and the evolution of male peacock
feathers by PBS called “Why Sex?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AiHTcWejjQ

I stop at 7 minutes! My kids LOVE this clip every year, and it really helps them
understand it!

15

Genetic Equilibrium
Genetic equilibrium (Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium) = when there are NO changes in the
allele frequencies in a population over time.

Evolution will NOT occur if:

Population is large.
Must be random mating.
No migration.
No mutations.
No natural selection.

If at least one of these conditions is NOT met, then the population is EVOLVING!
Refer back to slide 10 and the 5 mechanisms of microevolution – each of these
tenets basically combats one of those principles and is the only way for it to
theoretically be possible for evolution to not occur. Since it is nearly
impossible for all 5 of these conditions to be met, it is evidence that evolution
is always at work.

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium shows the math behind this, which I get into with my
honors and AP bio students.
16

Speciation through Isolation

17

Methods of Species Isolation

1.Behavioral Barriers: Different courtship or mating behaviors (birds songs/dances)
18

Methods of Species Isolation

2.Geographical isolation: physical barriers divide a population into 2 or more

groups
19

Methods of Species Isolation

3.Temporal Barriers : Timing prevents reproduction between populations

20

All of these barriers lead to..

Reproductive Isolation: Members of a population can no longer mate successfully.
21

22

Convergent Evolution
When unrelated species evolve similar characteristics because they live in similar
environments.
Ex. Although all of these animals fly, none are actually related ancestrally.

23

Divergent Evolution
A number of different species arise from one common ancestor.
New environments caused differences to evolve in populations.

Ex. A common ancestor of mammals gave rise to bears, monkeys, elephants, and
koalas.
24

Coevolution
Occurs when two populations of organisms form a specialized relationship and thus
change in response to each other.
Ex. Flowers and the insects that pollinate them.

Great examples of this in the PBS Evolutionary Arms Race video!

25

Extinction
Extinction - elimination of a species.
Gradual extinction - occurs at a slow rate.
Ex: Changes in climate, natural disasters.
Mass extinction - occurs when a catastrophic event changes the environment
suddenly.
Ex: Massive volcano, meteor, tsunami
26

Gradualism
Slow, constant changes over a long period of time.
Ex. Gradual evolution of peppered moths becoming darker over time after the
industrial revolution.

Great website explaining the peppered moths:

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/peppered-moth

Online simulation that you can use to demonstrate how gradual evolution of these
moths occurred: http://www.netlogoweb.org/launch#http://www.netlogoweb.org/assets/
modelslib/Sample%20Models/Biology/Evolution/Peppered%20Moths.nlogo
27

Punctuated Equilibrium
Bursts of change followed by periods of stability.
Ex. Changes to the mammal population during the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras.

The ”Big 5” mass extinctions are predicted to have caused these bursts of change
that could have led to punctuated equilibrium in the mammal populations.

28

Adaptive Radiation
Rapid evolution of many species from ancestral species
29