What have I learned so far?

 

I feel that I have a much better understanding of how mutations and genetic drift affect populations. In my original blog post, I said that I considered evolution to be both a fact and a theory depending on the context. I would now change that to say that evolution is both a fact and a theory regardless of the context because it is a fact that evolution occurs and the theory is the explanation for why evolution occurs. I also defined evolution as "...how living organisms adapt to a changing environment over generations and how these adaptations can lead to the formation of new subspecies." I would change my definition to say that evolution can occur in each generation. An example being how the average relative beak size of Darwin's finches changed every year depending on if natural selection favored birds with larger or smaller beaks. 
I understand that genetic drift has a larger impact on smaller populations but I am confused as to why a beneficial mutation doesn't become the most common allele in most of the simulations in the R exercise 5 3.3.1 model. I would think that even though the mutation is recessive it would still increase in frequency rather than disappearing after a handful of generations due to its 8% fitness benefit. When I first found out that I was going to be coding in this class I was terrified but I now find myself wishing that I didn't have as much homework in my other classes so that I could spend more time running simulations and I'm curious to see what else I learn about coding this semester. 


Image credit: https://www.ehstoday.com/emergency-management/article/21138145/what-we-have-learned-so-far-in-2020-navigating-crises

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