Final answer:
Linkage disequilibrium, seen in the founder effect and genetic isolation, can lead to increased frequencies of certain genetic disorders like Huntington's disease and Tay-Sachs in populations such as the Afrikaner community in South Africa and Ashkenazi Jews, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Consequences of Linkage Disequilibrium
Linkage disequilibrium can have significant effects on genetic variation in natural populations. One consequence can be seen in populations that have experienced the founder effect, a form of genetic drift. For example, the Afrikaner population in South Africa displays unusually high incidences of Huntington's disease (HD) and Fanconi anemia (FA) due to a higher-than-normal proportion of the founding colonists carrying these mutations. This increase in frequency of these diseases exemplifies how certain alleles can become more common in a population that has stemmed from a small, genetically similar group.
Another consequence of linkage disequilibrium is illustrated by the increase in alleles that cause Tay-Sachs disease in genetically isolated populations such as Ashkenazi Jews and French Canadians.
The isolation and practice of endogamy within these groups have led to a higher prevalence of this genetic disorder compared to other populations. These examples clearly show how genetic drift and linkage disequilibrium can alter the frequency of alleles and contribute to genetic conditions within a population.