A neutral allele
A) is affected by natural selection.
B) can lead to a discernible phenotype.
C) can accumulate in populations.
D) cannot be detected at the molecular level.
E) is not affected by genetic drift.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Neutral alleles are genetic variations that do not affect the phenotype of the organism and are not subject to natural selection. Such alleles can thus accumulate in populations over time through genetic drift, which is a random process. As a result, neutral alleles can serve as genetic markers to study evolutionary relationships among populations and species.

A Neutral Allele