Evolutionary Biology

1. Principles of Evolution
   1. Natural Selection
      1. Mechanism
         1. Differential Survival and Reproduction
         2. Heritable Traits and Genetic Variation
         3. Fitness and Adaptation to Environment
         4. Selective Pressures and Environmental Change
         5. Examples of Selective Forces
            1. Predation and Survival of the Fittest
            2. Competition for Resources
            3. Disease and Parasitism
      2. Examples
         1. Darwin’s Finches and Beak Variations
         2. Peppered Moth Industrial Melanism
         3. Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
         4. Pesticide Resistance in Insects
      3. Adaptation
         1. Structural Adaptations
            1. Camouflage and Mimicry
            2. Physiological Adaptations
         2. Behavioral Adaptations
            1. Migration and Hibernation
            2. Social Structures and Cooperative Behaviors
   2. Genetic Drift
      1. Definition and Mechanism
         1. Random Sampling of Alleles
         2. Impact on Small Populations
         3. Fixation and Loss of Alleles
      2. Founder Effect
         1. Establishment of New Populations
         2. Genetic Diversity Reduction
         3. Real-World Examples
            1. Island Populations
            2. Human Migration Patterns
      3. Bottleneck Effect
         1. Drastic Population Reduction
         2. Impact on Genetic Variation
         3. Examples of Bottleneck Events
            1. Endangered Species Recovery
            2. Historical Events Affecting Populations
   3. Mutation
      1. Types of Mutations
         1. Point Mutations
         2. Insertions and Deletions
         3. Chromosomal Mutations
      2. Role in Genetic Variation
         1. Source of New Alleles
         2. Beneficial, Neutral, and Deleterious Mutations
         3. Mutations and Evolutionary Change
         4. Mutations in Regulatory Genes Impacting Development
   4. Gene Flow
      1. Migration
         1. Movement of Individuals Between Populations
         2. Introduction of New Genetic Material
         3. Reduction of Genetic Differences Between Populations
      2. Impact on Populations
         1. Increased Genetic Diversity
         2. Potential for Hybridization
         3. Effects on Local Adaptation and Speciation
   5. Interaction Between Evolutionary Principles
      1. Gene Flow and Natural Selection
      2. Genetic Drift and Population Size
      3. Mutation as a Driver of Natural and Artificial Selection