BRAINCAKENatural Selection
Reproductively successful individuals are able to pass on their alleles to their offspring and the population will continue to have these alleles in the gene pool. Differences in the reproductive success of the alleles affects the allele frequency in a population.
Within any population there is a gene pool of a variety of alleles.
Random mutation occurs by chance and usually leads to harmful alleles but may lead to a allele that gives the individual a competitive advantage over a the rest of the population under certain conditions or in certain environments.
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Key terms in this lesson
- gene
- A length of DNA that codes for a polypeptide or a functional RNA molecule, at a specific locus on a chromosome.
- allele
- One of the different versions of a gene, arising by mutation, that occupy the same locus on homologous chromosomes.
- mutation
- A random change in the amount, arrangement or base sequence of the DNA of an organism.
- species
- A group of organisms with similar characteristics that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
More in Genetic Diversity
- Independent Segregation of Chromosomes
- Independent Segregation of Chromatids
- Number of Chromosome Combinations
- Genetic Diversity
- Peppered Moths
- Types of Selection
- Directional Selection
- Antibiotic Resistance
All 19 lessons in Genetic Diversity · All AQA AS-level Biology topics