Population Genetics

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What is genetic drift?

Back

Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population, often occurring after a significant reduction in population size due to events like natural disasters.

Front

True or False: Genetic drift can occur when a large portion of a population dies as a result of disease or a natural disaster.

Back

True

Front

What factors can affect the gene pool of a population?

Back

Factors that can affect the gene pool include births, deaths, immigration, emigration, and mutations.

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What is lateral gene transfer?

Back

Lateral gene transfer is the process by which single-celled organisms exchange genetic material, contributing to genetic diversity.

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What is allele frequency?

Back

Allele frequency is the proportion of a specific allele among all alleles for a particular gene in a population.

Front

Define gene pool.

Back

A gene pool is the total collection of genes and their alleles in a population at a given time.

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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 diversity.

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What is the bottleneck effect?

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The bottleneck effect is a sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events, resulting in a loss of genetic diversity.

Front

What is gene flow?

Back

Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations through migration, which can increase genetic diversity.

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How does mutation affect a population's gene pool?

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Mutations introduce new alleles into a population's gene pool, potentially leading to new traits and increased genetic variation.