Reproductive Specialist ( Reproduction, Speciation & Symbiosis )

The Hardy-Weinberg Principle or the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Model states that “allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of other evolutionary influences” (Version, T.). In order for genetic equilibrium to be maintained, five conditions must be met:

This mode of transmission, like malaria, can leave the host deadly sick. Its a cycle, with the parasite in the host, a mosquito will carry the blood with the parasite and inject it into a different host.

This occurs when a species is separated and mate with a different species, changing their genetic composition, if then the two species were to be brought back together and mate again, it would cause what is called ‘gene migration’. This process gives so many different variations among the species, which allows more and more variation and population. This process also explains endangered species and extinction.

Treatment for infected people involve antibiotics, steroids, intensive care, and droplet precautions. Prophylactic antibiotics are usually given to prevent the spread of the disease to those in close contact of the infected people.

was what made it especially dangerous, there was no known way to control the disease and it was able

fitness does well in its habitat and passes those favorable alleles onto its offspring when it reproduces.

The purpose of the lab was to see what color bead bug would survive the longest in the environment. By performing the experiment, natural selection was being tested. Natural selection is when organisms that are most suited to the environment survive and reproduce more successfully. Certain colored bead bugs would survive longer, because they blended in. The bead bugs that are a more prominent color stood out more and were eaten right away. This experiment displays how the population of bead bugs changes over the generations, due to the amount being eaten and the amount of bead bugs that were reproduced.

Parasitism: A relationship where an organism such as a parasite is dependent on a host.

Ticks, they are most significant vectors of infectious diseases in the United States. These arachnids can host a scary medley of infectious bacterium, and they are increasing at an alarming rate with one CDC graph showing their numbers have almost tripled since 1995 (Lyme Stats). Some point to greater awareness, other point to climate change, while we don’t know exactly why their reach is growing we do know we have to be wary of the diseases they carry. While not all ticks are hosts, ticks carrying the Borrelia bacteria known for causing Lyme disease present a massive public health risk. Lyme is one most under researched Infectious diseases with the CDC estimating that somewhere between 300,000 and 3,000,000 people are infected annual.

Many die before they are born or hatched depending on species, while many others don’t survive infancy and ultimately into their reproductive years. A portion of those that reach reproductive age will never reproduce due to sterility or other factors. This is a part of the natural selection process. It is often referred to as the, “survival of the fittest” (Frederic, 2011). It is hard to truly estimate what fraction of offspring will survive to reproduction. There are always obstacles to survival for an organism. Climate, food, habitat, and illness are just a few factors which affect natural selection. Ultimately we know that some traits can increase survival rates for individuals such as their color. We know from Darwin’s research that a certain beak length was favorable in finches but that was also dependent on yearly weather (Petren, 2005).

There is another side to the biodiversity of the evolutionary field, as the population weakens the species start the inbreeding of smaller populations, thus playing a role in the extinction of a species. Inbreeding is reproduction among members of a species that are genetically similar. The genetic inbreeding is designed to bolster populations of species whose numbers are in decline. However, when only a few species or varieties of a species are cultivated or survive, the genetic diversity of the organism declines, and population is more vulnerable to being wiped out by new diseases or climate changes because of the inbreeding (Alters, 2000).

hundreds of years, humans have had to deal with many types of pestilence. There are very many

First to understand reproductive isolation you must know what speciation is meant to natural selection. Speciation occurs when natural selection dives one species to split into two or more species (Bethel University, 2015). When speciation occurs, it can leave a one of the groups in reproductive isolation which is the inability to mate. This can occur for a few different reasons there could be a barrier that creates divide or unique phenotypical traits that will not allow for the mating with another species. This essentially will lead to the extinction of the new species that is doomed to reproductive isolation

When in a new host the parasites find their way into the brain and that’s when the problems arise for humans and other animals. These parasites, however, cannot complete a life cycle in any other host besides cats so it is believed that they affect the brains of other organisms as a way to get back to their proper hosts. For example, in rats, this parasite can cause them to love the smell of cats. This results in rats changing their behavior and seeking out cats rather then running away from them.

Environmental changes: The transmission of trachoma by flies can be reduced by limiting the number of flies people come into contact with by building covered latrines, discouraging people from sleeping close to their livestock, and encouraging villagers to regularly collect and burn