11
QuizMultiple Choice

Population Genetics

Question 11 • 112 CCHS Environmental Science

Which of the following statements is most accurate concerning the founder effect?

Answer
A
It increases genetic variation.
B
It is not an example of genetic drift.
C
It results when a small population breaks away from a larger one.
D
It only occurs amongst the Amish.

Explanation

The founder effect occurs when a small group separates from a larger population and establishes a new population. Because the founders carry only a sample of the original population’s genes, allele frequencies can differ by chance. It is a form of genetic drift, does not increase genetic variation, and is not limited to the Amish. Therefore, the most accurate statement is “It results when a small population breaks away from a larger one.”

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