Question

Your history professor is interested in genealogy and tells your class that, on his mother's side, he is descended from the original Amish population, a religious and insular group of people in Pennsylvania who tended to marry within their social circle. He also notes that many members of his extended family have the condition polydactyly, an extra finger or toe. The high frequency of polydactyly in your professor's ancestry is an example of:

Answer 1

Answer: The high frequency of polydactyly in your professor's ancestry is an example of a genetic drift.

Explanation:

A genetic drift is when there is a change in the gene pool. This occurs with a small population of people that live in the same area. This happens by chance and is not something that will always happen in a small community. This can occur with a small population of people over time when the gene pool is too small and the alleles makeup can change over time.

This is also known as the Sewall Wright Effect.