Final answer:
The 'random sampling of alleles' in genetic drift refers to the random distribution of alleles from parents to offspring, often affecting small populations significantly and unrelated to the advantages of certain traits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "random sampling of alleles" in the context of genetic drift refers to B) The random distribution of alleles to offspring genotypes from the parental gene pool. Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that occurs when allele frequencies in a population change due to random events rather than natural selection. In small populations, these random events can have a large impact on the genetic structure of the population since a few individuals carry a significant portion of the gene pool. For instance, if an individual with unique alleles dies before reproducing, those alleles may be lost from the population entirely. This is different from natural selection, which is not random and occurs when alleles provide an advantage for survival or reproduction.
Genetic drift can result in significant changes in the genome of a population, potentially leading to decreased genetic variation and increased differentiation between populations. Examples of genetic drift include the founder effect and the bottleneck effect, both of which are significant in shaping the genetic diversity of populations.