EvolutionLesson 2 of 5 in the course Genetic drift and gene flow

Gene Flow: Population Divergence, Barriers, and Conservation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces gene flow, how it changes populations, and why its effects depend on the situation.

Gene flow, also called migration or allele flow, is the transfer of genetic material from one population to another. It commonly occurs when individuals move between populations and reproduce, carrying their alleles into the population where they breed. Genetic material may also move in other ways, such as pollen dispersal between plant populations.

All flashcards

What is gene flow?
The transfer of genetic material between populations, often when migrants reproduce in a new population.
What is an allele frequency?
The proportion of copies of a gene in a population that are a particular variant.
How can gene flow counter genetic drift?
Migration redistributes alleles and can reduce the divergence that random changes cause in isolated populations.
What is introgression?
The transfer and incorporation of alleles between populations or species through hybridization and repeated backcrossing.
What is horizontal gene transfer?
Transfer of genetic material between organisms by means other than direct parent-to-offspring reproduction.

Quiz questions

  1. What is horizontal gene transfer?Answer: Transfer of genetic material between organisms outside direct parent-to-offspring reproduction.
  2. How does a direct method estimate gene flow?Answer: It tracks dispersing individuals and records whether they reproduce successfully.
  3. What does an FSTF_{ST} value near 0 generally indicate?Answer: Little genetic differentiation among the populations being compared.
  4. Where does sympatric speciation occur?Answer: Within the same geographic range as the ancestral population.
  5. What is the primary purpose of genetic rescue?Answer: To increase genetic diversity and reduce inbreeding in a small population.

Based on the Wikipedia article Gene flow, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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