Final answer:
Genetic drift causes random changes in allele frequencies, leading to homogenization and decreased genetic diversity in small populations due to the random sampling of alleles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in the allele frequencies of a population. One potential effect of genetic drift is that it can lead to a decrease in genetic diversity, as some alleles may become fixed (reach a frequency of 1) while others are lost completely. This process often results in homogenization of the population's genetic makeup. In the context of the question, genetic drift does not generally increase heterozygosity; instead, it can reduce it as one allele becomes much more common than others.
Also, genetic drift is not associated with an increase in population size; it is more significant in small populations where random events can have a larger impact on allele frequencies. It also does not promote random mating or increase mutation rates. As such, the correct answer to the student's question regarding the effects of genetic drift is that it leads to homogenization of the population's genetic makeup and can result in decreased genetic diversity due to random sampling of alleles. Specifically, the consequences of genetic drift could include an increased frequency of allele A over allele B in a given population, introduction of new alleles through mutation, or changes in allele frequencies due to chance events such as natural disasters.