Question

Choose two mechanisms of evolution and describe how you expect each of the two mechanisms, when acting alone, to affect genetic variation within and among populations?

Answer 1

Genetic drift and gene flow are two mechanisms of evolution that affect genetic variation within and among populations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Two mechanisms of evolution that affect genetic variation within and among populations are genetic drift and gene flow.

Genetic Drift: Genetic drift is a random process that occurs when certain individuals have more offspring than others, causing changes in allele frequencies within a population. It is more pronounced in smaller populations. When acting alone, genetic drift can lead to a loss of genetic variation as certain alleles become more common and others are lost.

Gene Flow: Gene flow occurs when individuals migrate and join or leave a population. This movement of individuals can introduce new alleles into the population, increasing genetic variation. When acting alone, gene flow can counteract genetic drift by preventing the loss of alleles and maintaining genetic diversity.