What is genetic drift?
A)gene mutation within, or between, populations
B)chance evolutionary change occurring in small populations
C)natural selection acting on large populations
D)shifts in allelic frequencies due to mutation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Genetic drift refers to chance evolutionary changes that occur in small populations due to random fluctuations in allele frequencies. This can occur through events such as founder effects or genetic bottlenecks, where a small group of individuals becomes isolated from the larger population and their genetic makeup becomes the basis for the new population. Unlike natural selection, genetic drift does not necessarily lead to the most adaptive traits becoming more common in a population.

What Is Genetic Drift