Final answer:
The statement is true because according to population genetics principles, the probability of a neutral allele's fixation in a finite population is equal to its initial frequency, which is 0.025 given that the allele occurs in 50 out of 2000 copies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The claim that an allele that occurs in 50 of the 2000 copies in a finite population has a probability of fixing equal to 0.025 is true. This aligns with the principles of population genetics and the theory of neutral allele frequencies and their fixation in a finite population. The probability of an allele becoming fixed in a population is equal to its frequency in the population, provided that all alleles have the same chance of being passed on to the next generation and there is no selection, mutation, or migration. In this case, the allele frequency would be 50/2000 = 0.025.
Genetic drift greatly influences smaller populations, which can lead to allele fixation due solely to chance events. Thus, the fixation probability of a neutral allele merely reflects its initial frequency in the population, regardless of whether it confers any selective advantage or disadvantage. This is consistent with the principles put forward by the Hardy-Weinberg model which describes the conditions under which a population remains at genetic equilibrium.