Population Genetics
Terms
Alleles
-
Variations of a given gene.
allelic frequencies
-
The frequency with which a particular allele appears among the possible
alleles in a population.
Fitness
-
The probability that an individual will contribute its genes to the next
generation.
Genetic drift
-
Random changes in allelic frequencies due to chance rather than selection.
Hardy-Weinberg equation
-
An equation used to find the allele frequencies in a population at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. For a two allele system, the Hardy-Weinberg equation
would be
(p + q)2 = 1
or
p
2 +2pq + q
2 = 1
.
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
-
A state in which phenotypic and allelic frequencies remain constant from
generation to generation in sexually reproducing populations.
Natural Selection
-
The theory holding that competition exists within species, determining which
species live to have offspring and pass their traits on to those offspring.
Phenotype
-
The traits or characteristics an individual displays.
