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  • Understanding Evolutionary Change: How Allele Frequencies Shift
    When a population of organisms is evolving, you can be sure that the frequencies of alleles in the population are changing over time.

    Here's why:

    * Evolution is about change in allele frequencies: Evolution is defined as a change in the genetic makeup of a population over generations. Alleles are different versions of a gene, and their frequencies within a population determine the traits that are expressed.

    * Changes happen through various mechanisms: These changes in allele frequencies can be driven by various evolutionary mechanisms, including:

    * Natural selection: Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their alleles to the next generation.

    * Genetic drift: Random fluctuations in allele frequencies can occur, especially in small populations.

    * Gene flow: The movement of individuals (and their alleles) between populations can alter allele frequencies.

    * Mutation: New alleles can arise through mutations, introducing new genetic variation into the population.

    Important Note: Evolution does not necessarily mean that a population is becoming "better" or more complex. It simply means that the genetic makeup of the population is changing.

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