Population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are fundamental concepts in evolutionary biology. This comprehensive guide covers key terms, population genetics principles, and factors affecting allele frequencies like mutations, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection. It provides in-depth explanations of concepts like the bottleneck effect and founder effect, along with examples to illustrate their impacts on populations. The material is suitable for students studying population genetics and preparing for exams on Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and related topics.
Key points:
- Defines important terms like alleles, gene pool, and population
- Explains how allele frequencies change over time through microevolution
- Covers major evolutionary forces: mutations, genetic drift, gene flow, natural selection
- Provides detailed explanations of bottleneck and founder effects with examples
- Includes review questions and scenarios to test understanding