Question

Describes how to distinguish the signature of inbreeding from that of genetic drift when we look at allele and genotype frequencies at one locus across generations.

Answer 1

To distinguish the signature of inbreeding from genetic drift when looking at allele and genotype frequencies at one locus across generations, we can compare the patterns of homozygosity and allele frequencies over time. Inbreeding results in an increase in homozygosity with each generation, while genetic drift leads to random fluctuations in allele frequencies.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to distinguish the signature of inbreeding from that of genetic drift when looking at allele and genotype frequencies at one locus across generations, we need to consider the different factors that affect each process. Inbreeding increases the frequency of homozygous genotypes, which can be detected by an excess of homozygotes compared to the expected frequencies based on allele frequencies. On the other hand, genetic drift is a random process that can lead to the loss or fixation of alleles over time. It results in changes in allele frequencies that are not related to selection or fitness. One way to distinguish the two is by comparing the patterns of allele and genotype frequencies across generations. Inbreeding is expected to increase homozygosity with each generation, while genetic drift can lead to random fluctuations in allele frequencies, without a consistent trend.