Question

Explain why a population of Mouflon in the Indian Ocean descended from only two individual that had not experienced a loss of genetic diversity was so surprising to scientists.

Answer 1

A population is reduced in size suggests the theory of genetic drift. This meaning a loss of genetic diversity would be expected. However, this did not stay true as scientists soon discovered. The genetic diversity in the Mouflon was not lost due to environmental pressures of the island.

Answer 2

When populations are dramatically reduced in size, the theory of genetic drift suggests that a loss of genetic diversity should be expected. In the case of the Mouflon, however, no such loss in diversity was observed. This result was extremely surprising to scientists because it meant that the theory of genetic drift does not always hold true.