Which term denotes random change in allele frequencies that can occur in small populations?

Which term denotes random change in allele frequencies that can occur in small populations?

• A. Genetic drift
• B. Founder effect
• C. Homozygous
• D. Allele

Answer: (A)

Genetic drift describes random fluctuations in allele frequencies from one generation to the next, especially in small populations. Because the sample of alleles passed on is small, chance events can cause certain variants to become more common or disappear entirely, independent of any selective advantage or disadvantage. Over time, these random changes can lead to fixation or loss of alleles. The founder effect is a specific instance of this process, occurring when a new population starts from a small group and thus has allele frequencies that differ from the original population purely by chance. Homozygous refers to having two identical alleles, and an allele is simply a variant form of a gene.

Genetic drift describes random fluctuations in allele frequencies from one generation to the next, especially in small populations. Because the sample of alleles passed on is small, chance events can cause certain variants to become more common or disappear entirely, independent of any selective advantage or disadvantage. Over time, these random changes can lead to fixation or loss of alleles. The founder effect is a specific instance of this process, occurring when a new population starts from a small group and thus has allele frequencies that differ from the original population purely by chance. Homozygous refers to having two identical alleles, and an allele is simply a variant form of a gene.