Final answer:
Divergence in a population's gene pool is primarily caused by mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection, each contributing to changes in allele frequencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Divergence within a population's gene pool can be caused by several factors, including mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection. Each of these factors plays a role in altering allele frequencies within a gene pool.
Mutation is a change in an organism's DNA and introduces new genotypic and phenotypic diversity into a population. It is the most common way to introduce novel genetic variation.
Genetic drift arises from chance events that cause certain alleles to be passed on to the next generation more than others. This is especially pronounced in small, isolated populations, and can lead to significant changes in allele frequencies over time.
Gene flow, which is also known as migration, occurs when individuals move into or out of a population, carrying their unique alleles with them. This alters the allelic makeup of the population they join or leave.
Natural selection is the process whereby individuals with advantageous traits tend to survive and reproduce more successfully, passing those traits on to their offspring.