Balanced polymorphism can be maintained by the combined actions of:
A) the founder effect and genetic drift.
B) heterozygote advantage and genetic drift.
C) heterozygote advantage and the founder effect.
D) frequency-dependent selection and the founder effect.
E) heterozygote advantage and frequency-dependent selection.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Balanced polymorphism can be maintained through heterozygote advantage, where individuals with two different alleles for a trait have a survival advantage, and frequency-dependent selection, where the fitness of a phenotype depends on its frequency relative to other phenotypes in the population. These mechanisms help maintain genetic diversity.

Balanced Polymorphism Can Be Maintained by the Combined Actions Of