Asked in Premeth Test 3 — The Cell, Evolution and Enzymes (5 March 2025) 2025Moderate

Change in the frequency of alleles at a locus that occurs by chance is called:

Correct answer: A. Genetic drift

  • A. Genetic drift
  • B. Mutation
  • C. Emmigration
  • D. Immigration

Explanation

Genetic drift takes place when the occurrence of variant forms of a gene, called alleles, increases and decreases by chance over time. These variations in the presence of alleles are measured as changes in allele frequencies.Genetic drift is the change in the frequency of gene variants (alleles) in a population due to random chance events, rather than natural selection. It can cause rare alleles to become common or common alleles to be lost entirely, leading to a reduction in genetic variation. The effects of genetic drift are most pronounced in small populations, where random events can have a disproportionately large impact.

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About Concept of Evolution

Evolution is the heritable change in populations over generations, driven by mutation, recombination, natural selection, genetic drift and reproductive isolation. Questions examine variation, adaptation, survival and reproduction, speciation, fossil and anatomical evidence, and the difference between individual acclimatization and evolutionary change in a population.

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