Final answer:
The Amish are an example of non-adaptive variation due to the Founder Effect, which has led to increased frequencies of conditions like polydactyly and Ellis-van Creveld syndrome in their population.
Step-by-step explanation:
Founder Effect and Non-Adaptive Variation in the Amish
The Amish are an interesting case study for non-adaptive variation due to the Founder Effect. When a small group from a larger population establishes a new colony, certain genetic traits can become amplified within it. In the case of the Amish, who originated from approximately 200 founders, two conditions demonstrate this: polydactyly and Ellis-van Creveld syndrome. These genetic traits were present in a few of the original Amish colonists and, because the Amish rarely intermarry outside their community, the frequency of these traits has dramatically increased compared to the general population, not due to adaptation but rather genetic drift and restricted gene flow.
Contrast this with populations who have adapted to unique environmental challenges, such as Indigenous peoples living at high altitudes, who have developed specific characteristics to survive in low-oxygen environments.
Considering the Amish lifestyle and their cultural practices, including the avoidance of modern conveniences like cars, the increase in these genetic conditions within their community exemplifies the Founder Effect and the substantial impact of non-adaptive genetic variance in a closed population.