AP Biology Flashcards: Population Genetics
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What provides direct evidence that evolution is occurring in a population?
Changes in the allele frequencies of a population over time provide direct evidence for the occurrence of evolution.
Card 1 of 10
All Flashcards (10)
What provides direct evidence that evolution is occurring in a population?
Changes in the allele frequencies of a population over time provide direct evidence for the occurrence of evolution.
What are the key random events that drive evolution?
Evolution is driven by random events such as mutation, genetic drift (which includes bottleneck and founder effects), and migration (also known as gene flow).
How does genetic drift affect the evolution of a population?
Genetic drift is a random process that can cause small populations to diverge genetically from other populations over time.
In general, how do random occurrences affect a population's genetic makeup?
Random occurrences can significantly alter the genetic makeup of a population, and these random processes play a key role in the evolution of specific populations.
A hurricane wipes out 90% of a coastal bird population. Which random evolutionary process does this event represent?
This event represents the bottleneck effect, a type of genetic drift where a random occurrence drastically reduces population size and changes its genetic makeup.
In the context of population genetics, what is evolution?
Evolution is the change in the genetic makeup of a population over time. Changes in allele frequencies provide direct evidence for its occurrence.
How does gene flow (migration) influence the evolution of populations?
Gene flow, or migration, is a random process that can prevent the genetic divergence of populations by introducing or reintroducing alleles between them.
What is the role of mutation in driving evolution?
Mutation is a random process that provides new genetic variation within a population, which is the raw material for evolution.
What are two specific types of genetic drift mentioned as random drivers of evolution?
Two specific types of genetic drift are the bottleneck effect and the founder effect.
A few birds are blown off course during migration and establish a new population on a remote island. Which evolutionary process is demonstrated?
This demonstrates the founder effect, a type of genetic drift where a new population is established by a small number of individuals, whose gene pool may differ from the source population.