Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
- 2. Chemistry3h 40m
- 3. Water1h 26m
- 4. Biomolecules2h 23m
- 5. Cell Components2h 26m
- 6. The Membrane2h 31m
- 7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
- 8. Respiration2h 40m
- 9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
- 10. Cell Signaling59m
- 11. Cell Division2h 47m
- 12. Meiosis2h 0m
- 13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
- Introduction to Mendel's Experiments7m
- Genotype vs. Phenotype17m
- Punnett Squares13m
- Mendel's Experiments26m
- Mendel's Laws18m
- Monohybrid Crosses19m
- Test Crosses14m
- Dihybrid Crosses20m
- Punnett Square Probability26m
- Incomplete Dominance vs. Codominance20m
- Epistasis7m
- Non-Mendelian Genetics12m
- Pedigrees6m
- Autosomal Inheritance21m
- Sex-Linked Inheritance43m
- X-Inactivation9m
- 14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
- 15. Gene Expression3h 20m
- 16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
- Introduction to Regulation of Gene Expression13m
- Prokaryotic Gene Regulation via Operons27m
- The Lac Operon21m
- Glucose's Impact on Lac Operon25m
- The Trp Operon20m
- Review of the Lac Operon & Trp Operon11m
- Introduction to Eukaryotic Gene Regulation9m
- Eukaryotic Chromatin Modifications16m
- Eukaryotic Transcriptional Control22m
- Eukaryotic Post-Transcriptional Regulation28m
- Eukaryotic Post-Translational Regulation13m
- 17. Viruses37m
- 18. Biotechnology2h 58m
- 19. Genomics17m
- 20. Development1h 5m
- 21. Evolution3h 1m
- 22. Evolution of Populations3h 52m
- 23. Speciation1h 37m
- 24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
- 25. Phylogeny2h 31m
- 26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
- 27. Protists1h 12m
- 28. Plants1h 22m
- 29. Fungi36m
- 30. Overview of Animals34m
- 31. Invertebrates1h 2m
- 32. Vertebrates50m
- 33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
- 34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- 35. Soil37m
- 36. Plant Reproduction47m
- 37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
- 38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
- 39. Digestive System1h 10m
- 40. Circulatory System1h 57m
- 41. Immune System1h 12m
- 42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- 43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- 44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- 45. Nervous System1h 55m
- 46. Sensory Systems46m
- 47. Muscle Systems23m
- 48. Ecology3h 11m
- Introduction to Ecology20m
- Biogeography14m
- Earth's Climate Patterns50m
- Introduction to Terrestrial Biomes10m
- Terrestrial Biomes: Near Equator13m
- Terrestrial Biomes: Temperate Regions10m
- Terrestrial Biomes: Northern Regions15m
- Introduction to Aquatic Biomes27m
- Freshwater Aquatic Biomes14m
- Marine Aquatic Biomes13m
- 49. Animal Behavior28m
- 50. Population Ecology3h 41m
- Introduction to Population Ecology28m
- Population Sampling Methods23m
- Life History12m
- Population Demography17m
- Factors Limiting Population Growth14m
- Introduction to Population Growth Models22m
- Linear Population Growth6m
- Exponential Population Growth29m
- Logistic Population Growth32m
- r/K Selection10m
- The Human Population22m
- 51. Community Ecology2h 46m
- Introduction to Community Ecology2m
- Introduction to Community Interactions9m
- Community Interactions: Competition (-/-)38m
- Community Interactions: Exploitation (+/-)23m
- Community Interactions: Mutualism (+/+) & Commensalism (+/0)9m
- Community Structure35m
- Community Dynamics26m
- Geographic Impact on Communities21m
- 52. Ecosystems2h 36m
- 53. Conservation Biology24m
22. Evolution of Populations
Genetic Variation
Problem 2`
Textbook Question
Why isn't inbreeding considered an evolutionary process?
a. It does not change genotype frequencies.
b. It does not change allele frequencies.
c. It does not occur often enough to be important in evolution.
d. It does not violate the assumptions of the Hardy–Weinberg principle.

1
Understand the concept of inbreeding: Inbreeding refers to the mating of individuals who are closely related genetically. This can lead to an increase in homozygosity, where individuals have two identical alleles for a particular gene.
Consider the impact on allele frequencies: Inbreeding does not change allele frequencies in a population. Allele frequencies remain constant because inbreeding only affects how alleles are distributed among individuals, not the overall genetic makeup of the population.
Examine genotype frequencies: Inbreeding can change genotype frequencies by increasing the proportion of homozygous individuals. However, this change in genotype frequencies does not equate to an evolutionary process, as evolution involves changes in allele frequencies over time.
Review the Hardy-Weinberg principle: The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences. Inbreeding does not violate this principle because it does not alter allele frequencies.
Evaluate the significance in evolution: While inbreeding can have significant effects on individual fitness and population health, it is not considered an evolutionary process because it does not lead to changes in allele frequencies, which are necessary for evolution to occur.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Inbreeding
Inbreeding refers to the mating of closely related individuals, which increases the chance of offspring inheriting identical alleles from both parents. While it affects genotype frequencies by increasing homozygosity, it does not alter allele frequencies in a population, which is why it is not considered an evolutionary process.
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Allele Frequencies
Allele frequencies represent the relative frequency of different alleles of a gene in a population. Evolutionary processes, such as natural selection, mutation, and genetic drift, change these frequencies over time. Inbreeding does not change allele frequencies, thus it does not contribute to evolution in the same way these processes do.
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Hardy–Weinberg Principle
The Hardy–Weinberg principle provides a model for genetic equilibrium in a population, assuming no evolutionary influences like mutation, selection, or migration. Inbreeding does not violate this principle because it does not change allele frequencies, although it does affect genotype frequencies by increasing homozygosity.
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