Question

What is a second way that genetic diversity can be lost in a small population?

Answer 1

Genetic diversity in a small population can be further reduced by the founder effect, where a new population is formed by a small group of individuals, leading to a genetic makeup that is not representative of the original population's diversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Another Way Genetic Diversity Can Be Lost

A second way that genetic diversity can be lost in a small population is through the founder effect. This occurs when a new population is started by a very small number of individuals from a larger population. Since only a few individuals contribute to the gene pool of the new colony, rare alleles may become more prevalent, while others may be lost completely, thereby reducing genetic diversity. The founders' genetic traits heavily influence the genetic structure of the resultant population. This was seen in the Afrikaner population of Dutch settlers in South Africa, resulting in high incidences of certain diseases due to the commonality of specific mutations among the initial settlers.

Due to their limited size, small populations are particularly susceptible to reductions in genetic diversity from such events. Large populations have a buffer against genetic shifts caused by the random loss of individuals, offering greater protection against genetic drift and the associated effects.

Answer 2

The founder effect is a second way that genetic diversity can be lost in a small population, occurring when a new population is started by a small number of individuals with different allele frequencies than the original population.

Step-by-step explanation:

Genetic Diversity Loss due to the Founder Effect

Another way that genetic diversity can be lost in a small population is through the founder effect. This occurs when a new population is established by a very small number of individuals from a larger population. If the group of founding individuals possesses different allele frequencies than the original population, these allele frequencies will heavily influence the genetic structure of the resulting population. The founder effect has been a significant factor in the genetic history of some human populations, such as the Afrikaner population of Dutch settlers in South Africa, leading to high incidences of certain diseases. This scenario demonstrates how a small, non-representative sample of a population can lead to reduced genetic variability when isolated or in a new environment.