People Today Are we genetically different from our Homo sapiens ancestors who lived 10-20,000 years ago? The answer is almost certainly yes. In fact, it is very likely that the rate of evolution for our species has continuously accelerated since the end of the last ice age, roughly 10,000 years ago. This is mostly due to the fact that our human population has explosively grown and moved into new kinds of environments, including cities, where we have been subject to new natural selection pressures. For instance, our larger and denser populations have made it far easier for contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis, small pox, the plague, and influenza to rapidly spread through communities and wreak havoc. This has exerted strong selection for individuals who were fortunate to have immune systems that allowed them to survive. There also has been a marked change in diet for most people since the end of the last ice age. It is now less varied and predominantly vegetarian around the globe with a heavy dependence on foods made from cereal grains. It is likely that the human species has been able to adapt to these and other new environmental pressures because it has acquired a steadily greater genetic diversity. A larger population naturally has more mutations adding variation to its gene pool simply because there are more people. This happens even if the mutation rate per person remains the same. However, the mutation rate may have actually increased because we have been exposed to new kinds of man-made environmental pollution that can cause additional mutations. It is not clear what all of the consequences of the environmental and behavioral changes for humans have been. However, it does appear that the average human body size has become somewhat shorter over the last 10,000 years, and we have acquired widespread immunity to the more severe effects of some diseases such as measles and influenza. Finally, can we say what direction human evolution will take in the future? This is a fascinating question to consider but impossible to answer because of innumerable unknown factors. Though, it is certain that we will continue to evolve until we reach the point of extinction.

According to the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Equation, all of the following slow down or stop evolution EXCEPT (choose as many as apply):   Group of answer choices   very small population   very large population   no one leaves or comes into the population   everyone has equal numbers of offspring   there are no mutations   there are lots of mutations   there is non- random mating

A population of 2000 mice on an island includes 40% white-furred individuals, 50% brown-furred individuals, and 10% black-furred individuals. A storm hits the island and decimates the population, leaving about 100 individuals, of which 75 are brown and 25 are white. The fur color of this population remains stable at about 75% brown and 25% white over the next several generations. -‐has evolution occurred? If so, by what process(es)? -‐has natural selection occurred? Why or why not? ­‐Is the current population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? yes no can't tell. Explain your answer.

A ship was caught in a storm and landed on a small island in the middle of the South Pacific. For generations, no one encountered this small colony who, despite the odds, made a thriving settlement on their island. After many years, what characteristics would be unique about this island population?  a. The people would look very different from each other, and may have evolved some odd characteristics that aren't seen in other humans. b. The people would look very different from each other, and may exhibit abnormally high occurrences of genetic diseases that are rare in the general human population. c.The people would look very similar to each other, and may exhibit abnormally high occurrences of genetic diseases that are rare in the general human population. d. The people would no longer be considered humans after evolving independently for several generations.