gentic drift
Random change in allele frequency due to chance, not natural selection
Genetic drift refers to the random fluctuations in the frequency of alleles, or gene variants, in a population over time. This process can occur when a subset of individuals from a population reproduces and their genetic makeup is not representative of the original population. This new population may have a different frequency of certain alleles due to chance.
Two common forms of genetic drift are the bottleneck effect and the founder effect. The bottleneck effect occurs when a population undergoes a drastic reduction in size due to environmental factors or human disturbances. This can cause certain alleles to become overrepresented or underrepresented in the new population, leading to a loss of genetic diversity.
In contrast, the founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals leave a larger population to establish a new population elsewhere. The new population may have a different frequency of alleles due to chance, compared to the original population. This can also lead to a loss of genetic diversity, especially if the founding population is very small.
Overall, genetic drift can have important evolutionary consequences for a population, including reduced genetic diversity and an increased risk of diseases due to the loss of beneficial alleles.
More Answers:
Understanding 2pq in Genetics: Calculating the Frequency of Heterozygous Individuals in a Population.Understanding the Consequences and Mitigating the Effects of the Bottleneck Effect in Populations
The Founder Effect: Understanding the Impact of Limited Genetic Variation on Populations and its Practical Implications in Medicine