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What is the difference between punctuated equilibrium and gradualism? 1.-and the difference between genetic equilibrium and genetic drift?

User Hoodsy
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Final answer:

Punctuated equilibrium and gradualism are two theories of evolutionary change. Genetic equilibrium refers to constant allele frequencies in a population, while genetic drift describes random changes in allele frequencies in small populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Punctuated equilibrium and gradualism are two theories of evolutionary change. Gradualism proposes continuous change, with species diverging gradually over time in small steps. Punctuated equilibrium suggests that species remain constant for long periods and that change, when it occurs, is rapid. In genetic equilibrium, the allele frequencies in a population remain constant over generations. Genetic drift, on the other hand, refers to random changes in allele frequencies caused by chance events in small populations.

In gradualism, evolution occurs at a slow, steady pace, while in punctuated equilibrium, evolution occurs in rapid bursts followed by long periods of little change. These models of evolution can both result in the divergence of new species. Genetic equilibrium and genetic drift, on the other hand, are related to changes in allele frequencies in populations. Genetic equilibrium occurs when the allele frequencies remain constant, while genetic drift describes random changes in allele frequencies that can occur in small populations.

User PatrickCurl
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Although both punctuated equilibrium and gradualism describe the rate of speciation, in gradualism evolution of species is, as a name suggests, gradual and slow while in punctuated equilibrium evolution of species occurs in sudden rapid changes.

Genetic equilibrium is a condition in a gene pool in which frequencies of alleles and genotypes does not change from one generation to another. Genetic drift is a change in the frequency of alleles in a population as a result of random sampling of organisms.
User E Ciotti
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