ON THE ORIGIN OF

EVOLUTION
Evolutionary Theory I

Nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution.

–Theodore Dobzhansky
Alleles
◦ Gene
◦ Segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait or part of a trait

◦ Allele
◦ Version of a gene
◦ Different allele variants typically arise from mutation
Allele Frequency
◦ Calculation of the proportion of a certain allele within a population

◦ Evolution is a change in allele frequency over time

◦ Allele frequency allows us to track evolutionary changes

◦ Allele frequency = (number of certain allele)

(total number of all alleles for that gene in a population)
◦ Shorthand: Freq of p allele=p/(p+q)
◦ Where p & q are two alleles for a gene
Allele Frequency
Gene: Color Population Genotypes Population Alleles
Alleles: G=green 25 ppl GG 10 ppl PP 5 ppl TT 3 ppl BB 100 G alleles
T=tan 25 ppl GP 5 ppl PB 2 ppl TB 25 T alleles
B=blue 13 ppl GT 25 B alleles
P=pink 12 ppl GB 50 P alleles

Question Question Question Question

What is the allele What is the allele What is the allele What is the allele 0.5
frequency of G frequency of T frequency of B frequency of P +0.125
alleles in the alleles in the alleles in the alleles in the +0.125
population? population? population? population? +0.25
1
The total allele
G Allele Frequency T Allele Frequency B Allele Frequency P Allele Frequency frequencies for all
100/(100+25+25+50) 25/(100+25+25+50) 25/(100+25+25+50) 50/(100+25+25+50) alleles for a gene
in a population
100/200=0.5 25/200=0.125 25/200=0.125 50/200=0.25 should equal 1
Evolution
◦ Change in allele frequency over time = Evolution

◦ Generation 1:
◦ G Allele Frequency=-0.5
◦ T=0.125
◦ B=0.125
◦ P=0.25

◦ Generation 2:
◦ G allele Frequency=0.75
◦ T=0.125
◦ B=0.0
◦ P=0.125
Evolution Change in allele frequency over time
Fact of Evolution
◦ Fact of Evolution: Organisms have
changed over time
◦ Look at fossils, homologous structures,
same DNA/RNA structure, biogeography
◦ Direct Observation: we have seen new
species develop within our lifetimes
(and seen species go extinct)
Theory of Evolution
◦ Theory of Evolution: The explanation of
the process by which organisms
change over time
◦ Synthesizes information from many fields
that support evolution
◦ “Theory” is the highest classification given
to something in science
◦ Established explanation of how species
have changed over time
Evolution
◦ Evolution: Change in Allele Frequencies

◦ Microevolution: evolution within a species

◦ Allele frequencies that change features of a population within a species
◦ Happen quickly and in small populations

◦ Macroevolution: evolutionary change resulting in a new species

◦ More difficult to observe; takes much more time than microevolution
EVOLUTIONARY
MECHANISMS
Mechanisms of Evolution
◦ Mutation
◦ Gene Flow
◦ Genetic Drift
◦ Natural Selection

◦ These mechanisms result in a change in allele frequency over time

◦ Sometimes microevolution results (within species)
◦ Sometimes macroevolution results (creation of new species—over considerably more time)
Mutation
◦ Mutation: a change in the structure of a gene, which results in a new form of that gene
(a new allele)
◦ Caused by a change in one or more bases in the DNA code
◦ Random
◦ Might be advantageous, more likely disadvantageous, even more are neutral

◦ Mutations  New Alleles

◦ New Alleles  Change in frequencies of alleles in a population
◦ Therefore: Mutations are one avenue to Evolution
Gene Flow
◦ The transfer of alleles from one population to another
◦ Migration
◦ Traveling from one population to another & mating

◦ Gene Flow will always Increase genetic diversity within a population,

and decrease genetic diversity between populations.

◦ Introduces new alleles into a population

◦  Changes the allele frequencies in a population

◦ Therefore: Gene Flow is one avenue to Evolution

Genetic Drift
◦ Change in allele frequency due to chance events
◦ Random events
◦ More common in small populations
◦ Random events have more effect on
small populations than large populations

◦ Fixation: an allele’s frequency reaches 1.0

◦ There is no other allele for that gene.

◦ Types of Genetic Drift

◦ Bottleneck Effect
◦ Founders Effect
Bottleneck Effect
◦ Large population loses much of the population
◦ A large portion of the population is randomly eliminated, resulting in a new population that
reflects the genetics of the survivors

◦ Disease
◦ War
◦ Natural Disasters

◦ Changes allele frequency in a population

◦ One avenue for Evolution
Founders Effect
◦ A founding population from a larger, parent population
doesn’t always represent the genetic diversity of the parent
population
◦ Just by chance
◦ The genetics of the population reflect the genetics of the initial members

◦ Ellis Van Creveld Syndrome

◦ Six fingered dwarfism
◦ Pennsylvania Old Order Amish

◦ Alters the allele frequency in a population

◦ One avenue for Evolution
Natural Selection
◦ The process by which organisms who are better adapted
to their environment survive and reproduce more offspring
◦ Charles Darwin
◦ Most powerful process that brings about Evolution
◦ NOT random

◦ Some alleles (and their corresponding traits) can be favored in an environment

◦ Adaptations
◦ Better able to survive and reproduce
◦ More FIT = more offspring

◦ Differential survival and reproduction based on an organism’s traits change allele

frequency
◦ Natural Selection is one avenue for Evolution
Evolutionary Mechanisms
◦ Four Mechanisms for Evolution:
◦ Mutation
◦ Gene Flow
◦ Genetic Drift
◦ Bottleneck Effect
◦ Founder’s Effect
◦ Natural Selection

◦ All lead to changes in allele frequencies

◦ All are ways by which Evolution takes place