Genetic Drift

Front

What is genetic drift?

Back

Genetic drift is a random change in allele frequency in a population, often having a more significant effect in small populations.

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In which type of populations does genetic drift usually occur?

Back

Genetic drift usually occurs in small populations.

Front

What does allele frequency refer to in a gene pool?

Back

Allele frequency refers to the number of times an allele occurs in a gene pool compared to the total number of alleles for that gene.

Front

What is a population in genetic equilibrium?

Back

A population in genetic equilibrium is one where allele frequencies remain the same and the population does not evolve.

Front

What is the bottleneck effect?

Back

The bottleneck effect is a change in allele frequency following a dramatic reduction in the size of a population.

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How does genetic drift differ from natural selection?

Back

Genetic drift is a random process that can lead to changes in allele frequencies, while natural selection is a predictable process that favors certain traits.

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What is the founder effect?

Back

The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to reduced genetic variation.

Front

Why is genetic drift more pronounced in small populations?

Back

In small populations, random events can have a larger impact on allele frequencies, leading to more significant changes over time.

Front

What role does genetic drift play in evolution?

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Genetic drift can lead to the fixation or loss of alleles, contributing to the evolutionary divergence of populations.

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Can genetic drift lead to speciation?

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Yes, genetic drift can contribute to speciation by causing populations to diverge genetically over time.