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Chapter 27: Problem 11

What is the difference between a neutral and an adaptive evolutionary process? Describe two or more examples of each. At the molecular level, explain how mutations can be neutral or adaptive.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Neutral evolution refers to changes in species that occur due to random genetic drift or mutation, not adaptive natural selection. Examples include silent mutations that don't change phenotype. Adaptive evolution is due to adaptations that improve an organism's survival and reproduction chances, like antibiotic resistance in bacteria. At the molecular level, neutral mutations don't change an organism's phenotype or biological fitness. Adaptive mutations, on the other hand, give an organism a survival and reproduction advantage.

Step by step solution

01

Difference Between Neutral and Adaptive Evolutionary Process

Neutral evolution refers to changes in species over time that are caused by random genetic drift or mutation rather than adaptive natural selection, while adaptive evolution involves changes that enhance an organism's likelihood of survival and reproduction. Neutral evolutionary changes do not directly lead to adaptation, they just happen randomly without consideration for the environment. In contrast, adaptive evolution directly responds to changes in the environment to help a species survive and reproduce.
02

Examples of Neutral and Adaptive Evolutionary Process

An example of neutral evolution can be seen in silent mutations in DNA sequence that do not result in a change in phenotype, for example, a mutation that changes the DNA sequence but not the amino acid it encodes for in protein synthesis. For adaptive evolution, an example can be seen in antibiotic resistance in bacteria, where a mutation allows certain bacteria to survive antibiotic treatment and reproduce.
03

Molecular Level Explanation of Neutral and Adaptive Mutations

At the molecular level, mutations are changes in the DNA sequence. A mutation is said to be neutral if it does not cause a change in the organism's phenotype or biological fitness i.e. its ability to survive and reproduce. This usually occurs due to redundancy in genetic code where multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. An adaptive mutation, however, gives the organism a better chance of survival and reproduction. This happens when a mutation causes a change in the DNA sequence that results in an advantageous phenotype such as antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What is Darwinian fitness? What types of characteristics can promote high fitness values? Give several examples.

With regard to genetic drift, are the following statements true or false? If a statement is false, explain why. A. Over the long run, genetic drift leads to allele fixation or loss. B. When a new mutation occurs within a population, genetic drift is more likely to cause the loss of the new allele rather than the fixation of the new allele. C. Genetic drift promotes genetic diversity in large populations. D. Genetic drift is more significant in small populations.

What evolutionary factors can cause allele frequencies to change and possibly lead to a genetic polymorphism? Discuss the relative importance of each type of process.

For a gene existing in two alleles, what are the allele frequencies when the heterozygote frequency is at its maximum value, assuming Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? What if there are three alleles?

What is genetic polymorphism? What is the source of genetic variation?
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