ANTH 1001 Lecture : Anth 1001 Notes 5
Document Summary
Lecture 5 notes: evolution change in allele frequencies in a population or species over time, mutation only way of introducing new alleles into a species. Most mutations are deleterious (harmful) or neutral to an organism. However, the natural selective advantage or disadvantage of a mutation is relative to environmental circumstances. Mutations provide genetic variability upon which natural selection then acts. The spread or increase in frequency of a mutation within a species is by natural selection. Mutation rate is too low for mutation to be the principal force in evolution: classification of mutations . Point mutation change to a single nucleotide due to an error in replication. The change in the protein is not functionally important the change is neutral with respect to natural selection. The change may also be functionally important, the natural selective advantage of disadvantage is contingent on environmental circumstances. Chromosomal mutation the position of a gene on a chromosome may be important in its phenotypic expression.
