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Multiple Choice
A tidal wave wipes out the entire population of mice living on an island. This is an example of:
A
gene flow
B
genetic drift (specifically, a bottleneck effect)
C
directional selection
D
adaptive radiation
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 due to chance events. It is more pronounced in small populations.
Learn about the bottleneck effect: The bottleneck effect is a specific type of genetic drift that occurs when a population experiences a drastic reduction in size due to an event, such as a natural disaster. This leads to a loss of genetic diversity.
Analyze the scenario: A tidal wave wiping out the entire population of mice on an island is a sudden and catastrophic event that drastically reduces the population size, fitting the description of a bottleneck effect.
Differentiate from other options: Gene flow involves the movement of alleles between populations, which is not relevant here. Directional selection refers to a consistent shift in traits due to environmental pressures, and adaptive radiation involves the diversification of species into different ecological niches. Neither applies to this scenario.
Conclude that the correct answer is genetic drift, specifically the bottleneck effect, as the event described leads to a significant reduction in population size and genetic diversity due to chance.