Geekfeazel Population

Trait
# original
Phenotype Frequency
Allele Frequency
# after changes
Phenotype Frequency
Allele Frequency
Red (R)

Green (r)

Long neck (L)

Short neck (l)

Large eyes (E)

Small eyes (e)

The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Equation is used to calculate the allele frequencies in a stable population.
p2 = frequency of homozygous dominant genotype
2pq = frequency of heterozygous genotype
q2 = frequency of homozygous recessive genotype

Use this formula to determine the allele frequencies (p and q) for each set of traits before and after the environmental changes and fill in the table above.

According to your calculations, did the environmental changes lead to evolution of the geekfeazel population? Evolution is a change in allele frequency in a population over time. Which trait(s) were selected for/against? Were any traits relatively unchanged?

Does “dominant” always mean “more common”? Justify with evidence.

If current environmental conditions continue, what will happen to the allele frequencies in another 20 years?

Explain how a trait in the Geekfeazel population may have a phenotypic frequency of 0 for a generation, but not be extinct from the population

Choose a trait that is now rare in the geekfeazel population. Describe a change in the environment (create your own) that could possibly cause this trait to be more abundant in the population in the future.

Is it good for a species to have individuals that are different (variation?) Why or why not?

Which of the following statements is accurate?
Individuals in the population can learn to change the length of their neck to reach food
Individuals in the population that have the long neck allele have more offspring, so overtime the species evolves to have longer necks

A random genetic mutation has occurred in one of the geekfeazels that gives it brown feathers. What would need to occur in order for the brown color trait to become common in the population?

In which of the following conditions is selection of a trait most likely to happen?
An environment with enough food for all members of the population
An environment with no predators
An environment in which individuals have to compete for food and not all individuals will survive to have children

Natural selection is often referred to as “survival of the fittest”. The term fit is defined as the ability to survive and reproduce. Consider the geekfeazles in the following table. Which individual would be considered the “fittest”. What are his traits? (CIRCLE)

Name
George
Dwayne
Spot
Tyrone
Age at death
5 years
16 years
12 years
10 years
# babies fathered
0
25
20
20
# babies surviving to adulthood
0
4
14
19
Neck Length
Long
Short
Short
Long
Eye size
Big
Small
Big
Small
Color
Green
Green
Red
Red

Natural selection is not the only force that can cause evolution of a population. Come up with two events that could happen to cause allele frequencies to change in the Geekfeazel population that are NOT due to natural adaptations providing a survival advantage.