Nonrandom mating

Definition

Nonrandom mating occurs when individuals choose their mates based on specific traits rather than at random. This can affect allele frequencies and genetic variation within a population.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Nonrandom mating includes assortative mating, disassortative mating, and inbreeding.
2. Assortative mating happens when individuals with similar phenotypes mate more frequently.
3. Disassortative mating occurs when individuals with different phenotypes mate more frequently.
4. Inbreeding increases the chances of offspring being homozygous for certain traits.
5. Nonrandom mating can lead to changes in genotype frequencies but does not directly alter allele frequencies.

Review Questions

• What are the main types of nonrandom mating?
• How does nonrandom mating influence genetic variation?
• What is the difference between assortative and disassortative mating?

Related terms

Genetic Drift: A mechanism of evolution that causes random changes in allele frequencies in a population.

Gene Flow: The transfer of alleles or genes from one population to another.

Natural Selection: The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.