Microevolution

Microevolution is the change in <a href="/facts/Allele_frequencies/gRApYaIy">allele frequencies</a> that occurs over time within a population. This change is due to four different processes: <a href="/facts/Mutation/Ee4NnWbY">mutation</a>, selection (<a href="/facts/Natural_selection/JXTte6en">natural</a> and <a href="/facts/Artificial_selection/CAkkM2UG">artificial</a>), <a href="/facts/Gene_flow/EuvXPhHt">gene flow</a> and <a href="/facts/Genetic_drift/lvoEEctX">genetic drift</a>. This change happens over a relatively short (in evolutionary terms) amount of time compared to the changes termed <a href="/facts/Macroevolution/Hsvn5aUe">macroevolution</a>.
<a href="/facts/Population_genetics/v55qAnKu">Population genetics</a> is the branch of biology that provides the mathematical structure for the study of the process of microevolution. <a href="/facts/Ecological_genetics/FxkvHMmH">Ecological genetics</a> concerns itself with observing microevolution in the wild. Typically, observable instances of <a href="/facts/Evolution/Hj0qAaBk">evolution</a> are examples of microevolution; for example, <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacterial</a> strains that have <a href="/facts/Antibiotic_resistance/jsbAywgx">antibiotic resistance</a>.
Microevolution provides the raw material for <a href="/facts/Macroevolution/Hsvn5aUe">macroevolution</a>.

Microevolution open-in-new

Microevolution