Gene Frequency and Natural Selection Team Brainstormers (BS) Spring Feb 2015

Gene Frequency ∗ Random genetic mutations occurs ∗ Inherent Variation ∗ Sexual reproduction Relationship between Gene Frequency and Natural Selection Natural Selection ∗ Influences from the surrounding environment ∗ Eliminating incompetent individuals ∗ Does not produce perfect organisms ∗ Highly selective and specific (According to Hardy-Weinberg, changes in frequency will not occur in a population if these five conditions are not met.) 1.No mutations 2.No natural selection 3.Very large population 4.Random mating 5.No gene flow

∗ Different populations of prey ∗ Different predators ∗ Adaptation by prey and predators ∗ Different environments ∗ Natural disaster-bottleneck effect ∗ Different rates of survival and reproduction of prey populations Natural Selection Methods

Gene Frequency Methods ●A starting population of 50 individuals represented by 100 alleles (beads) were picked out of the cup at random; this essentially signifies random mating. ●Allele pairs were added or removed based on the rate of survival to replicate the introduction of selective pressures. ●The allele pairs were then counted and beads were added depending on the rate of survival and reproduction for each case. ●Beads were picked out in pairs at random again, these signify individuals of the second generation. ●This process was repeated for six generations for all runs except for one case due to a shortage of beads. ○That run was carried out until the fourth generation; therefore, all comparative analysis can only be carried out to the fourth generation and forecasting was used for the subsequent generations. ●The rates of survival and reproduction for our various runs are greatly exaggerated, with rates rare- if ever found in nature. ○The exaggeration is so that we can see the explosive/depressive effects of adaptability, or lack thereof, to a given environmental condition.

Gene Frequency Results ●According to the graph, each of the genotype frequencies remain constant, therefore reinforcing the fundamental points outlined in the Hardy Weinberg principle.

●This graph entails the projections of the genotype frequency percentages up for future generations.

Natural Selection Results First Environment Second Environment Population Size Data G1G2G3G4G5G6 Blue Light Purple Orange Yellow Green Pink Dark Purple Aqua

●The second figure displays the combined representation of all of the species ●According to the first Figure (Populations with Projected Decay), the population counts in the first 6 generations fluctuated, but mainly had decreased in numbers.

Gene Frequency vs. Natural Selection ●Selection against one genotype can result in an overall positive effect on others by freeing up resources such as food and habitat. ●Fluctuations within subsets of a population are normal, overall change in allele frequency is usually gradual unless a subset completely dies out.

★ Natural selection and allele frequency are closely related, if natural selection is in action, then allele frequencies are changing. ★ The correlation between natural selection and gene frequency can be modeled in the laboratory using simple non-living systems, in living systems with much greater complexity, and can probably be modeled using highly sophisticated computer programs. ★ The allele frequency of the previous generation determines the phenotypic distribution of the current generation. ★ Natural selection acts upon this generation to refine the positive traits, weeding out the negative traits due to selective pressures such as predation, sexual selection, and relative fitness. ★ Therefore natural selection is a direct cause of allele fluctuation within a population. Conclusions

●Reece, J. (2011). Campbell biology Jane B. Reece... [et al.]. (9th ed.). Boston: Benjamin Cummings. ●The Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth. Types of Natural Selection. NY. Paleontological Research Institution. [cited 2015 Feb 19]. Available from ●Philip McClean. Evolutionary Genetics [Internet]. Bison (ND): North Dakota State University; 1997 [updated 1998; cited 2015 Feb 25]. Available from: ●"Modern Theories of Evolution: Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Model."Modern Theories of Evolution: Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Model. Available from: References