In most populations of living things, each individual has ___ copies of each gene, which may be the same or different allelic variants. A population may have ________ allelic variants for a given gene.
a. 1, 2
b. 2, 4
c. 2, many
d. 1, many
e. 2, 2
Adv.
The genetic component of any organism is termed as its genotype, where as the physical characteristics and behaviour is termed as its phenotype. However, genes are responsible for determining the phenotype in any organisms. The genes, coding for phenotype occur in variant forms in organisms, which reproduce by sexual mode. They are called alleles. An organism has not more than two alleles for a given gene. The two alleles come from its parents. One allele for every gene comes from its father and other from its mother. Group of organisms, representing a species living at a particular place at a particular time period is called population. It is important to note that a population consist of numerous allelic variants, altogether. Individual organisms cannot have more than two alleles for a particular gene; however, many allelic variants are present in a population.
Hence, the correct option is c) 2, many
Match the terms with their meanings:
| a. gene pool | a variant form of a gene |
| c. allele frequency | the genetic makeup of an organism |
| d. genotype | exchange of genes between populations |
| e. gene flow | the relative representation of a given form of a gene in a population |
Match the agent of microevolution to its description:
| a. mutation | chance alterations of allele frequencies, having the greatest effect on small populations |
| b. gene flow | a process through which traits that confer a reproductive advantage to individuals are seen with greater frequency in succeeding generations of a population |
| c. natural selection | movement of alleles between populations by migration |
| d. genetic drift | genetic drift brought about by migration of a subpopulation |
| e. founder effect | changes in the genetic material |