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Multiple Choice
Which of the following factors will not cause genetic drift?
A
Founder effect
B
Random mating
C
Bottleneck effect
D
Large population size
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of genetic drift: Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies within a population, often having a more pronounced effect in small populations.
Identify the factors that contribute to genetic drift: The founder effect and bottleneck effect are both scenarios that can lead to genetic drift. The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, while the bottleneck effect happens when a population's size is significantly reduced due to an event, leading to a loss of genetic variation.
Examine the role of random mating: Random mating refers to the process where individuals pair by chance rather than by choice or selection. While random mating can influence genetic variation, it does not directly cause genetic drift.
Consider the impact of large population size: Large population size generally reduces the impact of genetic drift because the larger number of individuals means that random changes in allele frequencies are less likely to have a significant effect.
Conclude which factor does not cause genetic drift: Given the explanations above, large population size is the factor that does not cause genetic drift, as it minimizes the random fluctuations in allele frequencies.