Question

The four main forces that drive evolution are mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. All of these forces can cause a change in what?

Answer 1

Answer:

Allele frequencies

Explanation:

The only component that is transmitted from generation to generation is the genetic material (genes), the fact that an individual leaves more descendants implies that their genetic variants (alleles) will be more represented in the next generation. The frequencies of the different alleles will change from one generation to another, and this change will be irreversible when the set of genes in the population is considered, since it is highly unlikely that a previous configuration will be returned in all gene variants. Hence, from a population point of view, evolution is ultimately a cumulative and irreversible change in the proportions of different gene variants in populations. The agents that change the allele (or gene) frequencies of populations, that is, factors of evolution, are mutation, genetic drift, migration, and natural selection. Mutation is a factor that increases genetic diversity. Natural selection is the process by which the gene frequencies involved with certain traits vary from generation to generation, since some variants of the trait have a greater capacity than others to survive and produce offspring. The mutation rate of a gene or DNA sequence is the frequency at which new mutations occur in that gene or sequence in each generation. In each generation there is a gene raffle during the transmission of gametes from parents to children which is known as genetic drift. In the absence of gene flow, gene drift will also lead to local differences in allele frequencies.