What is the role of genes in evolution?

Answer 1

Genes are the code, which when processed by a cell, result in a particular individual of a species.

Slight changes (mutations) to these Genes therefore result in differences to an individual organism as compared to the rest of the members of its species. If these difference help the organism to survive and breed better than the rest of its species, then these Genes get passed on to its offspring. Thus evolutionary changes to organisms are in effect changes to the Genes which make the living organisms.

Answer 2

Evolution is the non random survival of randomly varying replicators. It also describes the idea (theory) that existing animals and plants developed by a process of gradual, continuous change from previously existing forms (also known as descent with modification).

Contrary to some popular belief, evolution does not claim that God doesn't exist;

You can accept evolution and believe in God. Although evolution is based on science, many evolutionary biologists accept the existence of God.

Additional Input

• Evolution is the change in the inherited traits of a population of organisms through successive generations.

Answer 3

Evolution is change over time. Each generation competes for available resources such as food, shelter and most importantly a mate. A common misconception is that it is based on the survival of strongest- this is not true it is based on survival of the fitness. Fitness here does not refer to how strong or smart a person is, rather how many offspring they successfully leave behind. For example, a deer that is born with an ability to run a little faster than his fellow deer is more likely to survive and therefore more likely to pass his genes to the next generation who will in turn be more likely to be able to run faster and overtime deer will run increasingly faster.

Answer 4

It is often said that evolution does not occur at the scale of the individual, but only at the population level.

This is false. Evolution is something that can be most easily measured at the population level, but the scale at which it occurs is really the gene.

Genes are what changes with reproduction. Genes get replicated with differing success, depending on the characteristics with which they bestow their bearers. We usually measure evolution by assessing the frequency of a particular allele (one variant of a gene) in the population gene pool.

In this way of looking at evolution, individuals are collections of genes; they are the medium by which genes preserve themselves.

Answer 5

Genes play a crucial role in evolution by encoding the traits that are passed down from one generation to the next. Mutations in genes can lead to genetic variation, which is the raw material for natural selection to act upon, driving evolutionary change over time. Genes provide the blueprint for the development and functioning of an organism, influencing its ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Answer 6

Evolution is the change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms. Just change over time is evolutions role.

Answer 7

phenotype