Question

How might genetic drift be important in a small population. see section 23.4 (page 470) . view available hint(s) how might genetic drift be important in a small population. see section 23.4 (page 470) . it decreases genetic diversity only by reducing population size. it increases genetic diversity by introducing alleles from one population into another. it decreases genetic diversity via sampling error during mating. it increases genetic diversity by introducing new genes into the dna of a species?

Answer 1

Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies in a small population. Small populations are more vulnerable to genetic drift because chance events can have a greater impact on their genetic structure. For example, the loss of one individual in a small population can lead to a significant reduction in genetic diversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies that occurs in a small population. It is most important in small populations because chance events can have a greater impact on the genetic structure of the population. For example, if one individual in a population of ten dies before reproducing, that individual's genes will be lost, significantly reducing genetic diversity in the population. Conversely, in a larger population, the loss of one individual would have a smaller impact.

Answer 2

The correct answer is it decreases genetic diversity only by reducing population size.

The great explanation for this is a bottleneck effect, which is an extreme example of genetic drift. The bottleneck effect occurs when the size of a population is reduced due to a catastrophe. When it happens, only a small, random number of individuals survive the event and pass through the bottleneck. Thus, the genetic composition of the random survivors is now the genetic composition of the entire population which means that the genetic diversity is reduced.