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HomeHomework HelpbiologyGenetic Drift Effects

Genetic Drift Effects

Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies within a population, which can occur through two main processes: the bottleneck effect, where a significant reduction in population size leads to a loss of genetic diversity, and the founder effect, where a small group from a larger population establishes a new population, carrying only a fraction of the original genetic variation.

intermediate
2 hours
Biology
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Overview

Genetic drift is a vital concept in evolutionary biology that describes how allele frequencies in a population can change due to random events. This process can lead to significant genetic changes, especially in small populations. The bottleneck effect occurs when a population's size is drastically ...

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Key Terms

Allele
A variant form of a gene.

Example: Different alleles can result in variations in traits, like flower color.

Genetic Diversity
The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

Example: High genetic diversity helps populations adapt to changing environments.

Population Bottleneck
A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events.

Example: The northern elephant seal experienced a bottleneck due to hunting.

Founder Effect
When a small group from a larger population establishes a new population.

Example: The Amish community in the U.S. shows a founder effect with certain genetic traits.

Allele Frequency
How often an allele appears in a population.

Example: If 70 out of 100 alleles are A, the frequency of A is 0.7.

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

Example: Peppered moths changed color due to pollution, showing natural selection.

Related Topics

Natural Selection
The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
intermediate
Evolutionary Biology
The study of the origins and changes in the diversity of life over time.
advanced
Population Genetics
The study of genetic variation within populations and how it changes over time.
intermediate

Key Concepts

Bottleneck EffectFounder EffectAllele FrequencyGenetic Diversity