Genetic Drift

Front

What is genetic drift?

Back

Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies within a population, often due to chance events.

Front

What causes genetic drift?

Back

Genetic drift is caused by random chance events that affect which individuals survive and reproduce.

Front

What is the bottleneck effect?

Back

The bottleneck effect occurs when a population's size is significantly reduced for at least one generation, leading to a loss of genetic diversity.

Front

Give an example of the bottleneck effect.

Back

An example of the bottleneck effect is when Bald Eagles were hunted to near extinction, drastically reducing their population size.

Front

What is gene flow?

Back

Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations through migration of individuals or gametes.

Front

How does gene flow affect genetic diversity?

Back

Gene flow can increase genetic diversity within a population by introducing new alleles.

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to changes in allele frequencies.

Front

Provide an example of natural selection.

Back

An example of natural selection is red fox pups being more likely to survive in snowy environments if they are born white.

Front

What is the difference between genetic drift and natural selection?

Back

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

Front

What happens to genetic diversity after a bottleneck event?

Back

Genetic diversity typically decreases after a bottleneck event due to the reduction in population size.