A Predictable Effect of Genetic Drift in a Small Population

Question

A predictable effect of genetic drift in a small population is an increase in _____.
A) mutations
B) dominant alleles
C) recessive alleles
D) genetic variation
E) homozygosity

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift results in the loss of genetic variation within a population as alleles are randomly lost over time. In a small population, genetic drift can have a greater impact because there is less genetic diversity to begin with. This can lead to an increase in homozygosity as individuals have a higher chance of inheriting the same allele from both parents, which can have negative consequences such as reduced fitness and increased susceptibility to disease.