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Multiple Choice
How does inbreeding depression decrease a population's fitness?
A
By promoting beneficial mutations
B
By enhancing the population's ability to adapt to environmental changes
C
By increasing genetic diversity within the population
D
By increasing the frequency of harmful recessive alleles
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that inbreeding depression refers to the reduced biological fitness in a given population due to inbreeding, which is the mating of closely related individuals.
Recognize that inbreeding increases the probability that offspring will inherit two copies of harmful recessive alleles, which can lead to the expression of deleterious traits.
Acknowledge that these harmful recessive alleles can result in reduced survival and reproductive success, thereby decreasing the overall fitness of the population.
Note that inbreeding does not promote beneficial mutations or enhance adaptability; instead, it limits genetic diversity, making the population more vulnerable to environmental changes.
Conclude that the increase in the frequency of harmful recessive alleles due to inbreeding is the primary reason for the decrease in a population's fitness, as it leads to the expression of negative traits that can affect survival and reproduction.