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What are the four main ways in which evolutionary change occurs in populations?

User Tadamhicks
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Final answer:

There are four main ways in which evolutionary change occurs in populations: mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The four main ways in which evolutionary change occurs in populations are:

  1. Mutation: Mutation creates new genetic variation in a gene pool. It is a random process that introduces changes in the DNA sequence of an organism.
  2. Gene flow: Gene flow occurs when individuals migrate from one population to another, resulting in the transfer of genes. It can lead to an increase in genetic diversity within a population.
  3. Genetic drift: Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies in a population over time. It typically occurs in small populations and can lead to the loss of genetic variation.
  4. Natural selection: Natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population over generations. It occurs when certain individuals have traits that give them a higher chance of survival and reproduction.
User Troy Zuroske
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