Question

How might genetic drift be important in a small population?

Answer 1

Answer:

2. It decreases genetic diversity only by reducing population size.

Explanation:

Genetic drift is an evolutionary force that works in conjunction with natural selection by changing the allelic frequencies of species over time. It is a consequence of random sampling in reproduction and the loss of some alleles by chance and not by natural selection. Normally there is a loss of the less frequent alleles and a fixation of the most frequent ones, resulting in a decrease in the genetic diversity of the population. They are accentuated in small populations, and result in changes that are not necessarily adaptive.

Answer 2

Answer:

3. It decreases genetic diversity via sampling error during mating.

Explanation:

Genetic drift is important in small population because it decreases genetic diversity via sampling error during mating from generation to generation.

Genetic drift is defined as a change in the allele frequency of a population as a result of sampling error across different generations.

For a small population that already has low number of alleles, genetic drift leads to the fixation of alleles within the population, increases inbreeding coefficients and increases the chance of homozygosity within the population thereby reducing the overall genetic diversity of the population.