Question

Imagine that one of the original four mice that escape from a research lab is blind due to a genetic defect. If the escaped mouse breeds and most of the mice born in subsequent generations are blind from birth, this is most likely a case of _______.

Answer 1

Founder effect

Step-by-step explanation:

• Founder effect occurs when a small number of individuals move out from a larger population and then develop a new population in an isolated place such that it leads to a decreased genetic diversity in the population established by a fewer individuals.
• As a result of the founder effect the genetic diversity is reduced in the descendants of the founder population which leads to an increase in the probability of having a genetic disorder.
• Therefore, since the mice being blind due to a genetic defect escape from the laboratory and breeds then the subsequent generations will most likely be blind from birth as a result of founder effect.