A population of birds encounters a dramatic event that results in a severe decrease in population size. As a result of the newly decreased population, what type of genetic drift does this population now exhibit?
Correct answer: C. Bottleneck effect
- A. Artificial selection
- B. Founder effect
- C. Bottleneck effect
- D. Both a and b
Explanation
The correct answer is the bottleneck effect. This occurs when an event drastically reduces a population's size, resulting in a loss of genetic diversity because only a small, random sample of individuals survives. This differs from artificial selection, which is a deliberate human-driven process, and the founder effect, which involves a small group starting a new population, typically in a new area. Therefore, neither artificial selection nor the founder effect applies to the scenario of a dramatic population decrease as described in the question.
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About Evolution
Evolution describes heritable change in populations over generations through variation, natural selection and adaptation. Lamarckism explains inheritance of acquired characteristics, while Darwinism explains selection of favourable inherited variations; these historical explanations must not be confused with the modern genetic account of evolutionary change.
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