Question

How does geographic isolation affect a population's gene pool?

Responses

It increases the rate of mutation in the gene pool.
It increases the rate of mutation in the gene pool.

It increases the rate of gene flow between populations.
It increases the rate of gene flow between populations.

It causes natural selection to remove harmful genes.
It causes natural selection to remove harmful genes.

It prevents gene flow between other populations.

Answer 1

It prevents gene flow between other populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Geographic isolation can prevent gene flow between other populations by creating physical barriers that prevent individuals from one population from interbreeding with individuals from another population. This can lead to the accumulation of genetic differences between the isolated populations over time, as mutations and other genetic changes may occur independently in each population without being exchanged with other populations. As a result, the gene pool of each isolated population may become increasingly distinct and divergent from the gene pools of other populations. This process can eventually lead to the formation of new species.