The Rate of Evolution Is Affected by the Following Factors

question 15

Essay

The rate of evolution is affected by the following factors: genetic variation, rate of mutation, how isolated a population is, and the size of a population. It is said that the size of a population determines the rate at which genetic variation is lost by chance (genetic drift). Are larger or smaller populations more affected by genetic drift? Explain your answer.

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Definitions:

Epigenetics

The study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without changes in the DNA sequence.

Gene Expression

The process by which the instructions in our DNA are converted into a functional product, such as a protein, influencing physical traits and bodily functions.

Neurons

Neurons are the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, responsible for receiving sensory input from the external world, processing it, and sending commands to the body.

Phenotypic Plasticity

An individual’s capacity to develop into a range of phenotypes.