Which process best explains how allele frequencies may change randomly in small populations, potentially reducing genetic variation?

Which process best explains how allele frequencies may change randomly in small populations, potentially reducing genetic variation?

• A. Genetic drift
• B. Genetic equilibrium
• C. Speciation
• D. Biological magnification

Answer: (A)

Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies from one generation to the next, and it hits small populations especially hard. Because only a tiny sample of individuals contributes genes to the next generation, chance events can cause certain alleles to become more common or disappear entirely. Over time, this randomness can reduce overall genetic variation in the population, since some alleles are lost or fixed simply by chance rather than by natural selection. Genetic equilibrium would mean allele frequencies stay the same if no evolutionary forces act, so it does not explain random changes. Speciation is about the formation of new species, not random shifts in allele frequencies within a population. Biological magnification concerns the increasing concentration of toxins up the food chain, not genetic variation.

Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies from one generation to the next, and it hits small populations especially hard. Because only a tiny sample of individuals contributes genes to the next generation, chance events can cause certain alleles to become more common or disappear entirely. Over time, this randomness can reduce overall genetic variation in the population, since some alleles are lost or fixed simply by chance rather than by natural selection.

Genetic equilibrium would mean allele frequencies stay the same if no evolutionary forces act, so it does not explain random changes. Speciation is about the formation of new species, not random shifts in allele frequencies within a population. Biological magnification concerns the increasing concentration of toxins up the food chain, not genetic variation.