ZOOV102 | ZOOX102 “Principles of Animal Evolution” | 2023

--- week 2, theme: “Natural Selection” (summary notes – key questions, concepts, resources) ---

in: RIDLEY, M. 2004. Evolution 3rd ed.

SECT. SECTION HEADING P.
Natural Selection and Variation 4.1 In Nature, There Is A Struggle For Existence. 72
4.2 Natural Selection Operates If Some 74
- Reiteration: what is natural selection and what does natural Conditions Are Met.
selection act upon? 4.3 Natural Selection Explains Both Evolution 75
- Explain the 4 conditions necessary for natural selection to occur; And Adaptation.
4.4 Natural Selection Can Be Directional, 76
o reproduction (in excess); heredity; polymorphism; variation in Stabilizing, Or Disruptive.
fitness 4.5 Variation In Natural Populations Is 81
- (brush up on your ZOOV101 genetics concepts…) Widespread.
4.6 Organisms In A Population Vary In 85
- Three types of natural selection: Reproductive Success.
o directional; stabilising; disruptive 4.7 New Variation Is Generated By Mutation 87
And Recombination.
- Does natural selection create variation? 4.8 New Variation Created By Recombination 88
Key concepts: natural selection – conditions, types, examples; And Mutation Is Random With Respect To
The Direction Of Adaptation.
variation.

The Theory of Natural Selection in: RIDLEY, M. 2004. Evolution 3rd ed.
SECT. SECTION HEADING P.
- Close link to population genetics – why? 5.1 Population Genetics Is Concerned With 96
- How to calculate genotype and gene frequencies? Genotype And Gene Frequencies.
5.2 An Elementary Population Genetic Model 97
- What are the 4 conditions necessary of a population in HWE?
Has Four Main Steps.
- Why is the HWE important? 5.3 Genotype Frequencies In The Absence Of 98
- Why does a recessive allele, if not selected for, never quite leave Selection Go To The Hardy–Weinberg
Equilibrium.
a population? 5.4 We Can Test, By Simple Observation, 102
- If selected for, why are the rates of change under natural Whether Genotypes In A Population Are At
selection different for dominant and recessive alleles? The Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium.
5.5 The Hardy–Weinberg Theorem Is 103
- The sickle cell anaemia example is a good case-study for Important Conceptually, Historically, In
heterozygous advantage. Practical Research, And In The Workings Of
Theoretical Models.
- Why can negative-frequency dependent selection produce
5.6 The Simplest Model Of Selection Is For One 104
stable polymorphisms, but positive-frequency dependent Favored Allele At One Locus.
selection can’t? 5.7 The Model Of Selection Can Be Applied To 108
The Peppered Moth.
o Explain how multiple niche polymorphism can occur? 5.8 Pesticide Resistance In Insects Is An 115
- What’s the difference between a species and a population? Example Of Natural Selection.
o What happens when a population is sub-divided? 5.9 Fitnesses Are Important Numbers In 118
Evolutionary Theory And Can Be Estimated
- How does migration and natural selection influence sub- By Three Main Methods.
population genetics and speciation? 5.10 Natural Selection Operating On A Favored 120
Allele At A Single Locus Is Not Meant To Be
Key concepts: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; fixed allele; A General Model Of Evolution.
recurrent mutations; heterozygous advantage; frequency- 5.11 A Recurrent Disadvantageous Mutation 121
Will Evolve To A Calculable Equilibrial
dependent selection: negative & positive; Wahlund effect; Frequency.
population 5.12 Heterozygous Advantage. 123
5.13 The Fitness Of A Genotype May Depend 127
On Its Frequency.
5.14 Subdivided Populations Require Special 129
Supplementary links/videos Population Genetic Principles.
- What is natural selection?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCjhI86grU&feature=youtu.be

last point to ponder: is evolution random?


“Principles of Animal Evolution” – 1st year Zoology at Nelson Mandela University – 2023 edition, taught by Mr Matthys Potgieter