Mikroevolúció

Mikroevolúció refers to small-scale evolutionary changes that occur within a population or species over relatively short periods. It encompasses the changes in allele frequencies in a gene pool of a population. These changes are driven by several fundamental mechanisms, including mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection.

Mutation introduces new genetic variation into a population by altering DNA sequences. Gene flow, or migration, occurs when individuals move between populations, introducing or removing alleles. Genetic drift refers to random fluctuations in allele frequencies, particularly significant in small populations, where chance events can lead to certain alleles becoming more or less common. Natural selection is the process where individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous alleles to their offspring.

The cumulative effect of these microevolutionary processes over long stretches of time can lead to macroevolution, which involves the formation of new species and larger evolutionary lineages. Therefore, understanding microevolution is crucial for comprehending the broader patterns of evolutionary history. Examples of microevolution can be observed in the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria or the changes in beak size of Galapagos finches in response to environmental pressures.