The sharp reduction of the gene pool and the numbers of a population through a severe epidemic is an example of ____.
A)artificial selection
B)genetic isolation
C)the bottleneck effect
D)the founder effect
E)natural selection

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The bottleneck effect occurs when a population experiences a steep decline, reducing the gene pool and numbers of individuals, in turn reducing genetic diversity. This is usually the result of disease, natural disasters or human intervention. The reduction in genetic diversity, as a result of the population bottleneck effect or genetic drift, may lead to the loss of some alleles from the population or fixation of others, altering the genetic make-up of the population. This results in inbreeding and can lead to genetic disorders becoming more common. Therefore, the answer is C - the bottleneck effect.

The Sharp Reduction of the Gene Pool and the Numbers