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Multiple Choice
How does diploidy help to preserve genetic variation in a population?
A
By promoting the loss of genetic variation through increased homozygosity
B
By preventing recombination during meiosis
C
By ensuring that only dominant alleles are expressed and maintained
D
By allowing recessive alleles to be hidden in heterozygotes, preventing their elimination by selection
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that diploidy means organisms have two sets of chromosomes, and therefore two alleles for each gene.
Recognize that in diploid organisms, individuals can be heterozygous, carrying one dominant and one recessive allele.
Note that recessive alleles can be 'hidden' in heterozygotes because their effects are not expressed when paired with a dominant allele.
Realize that because recessive alleles are not expressed in heterozygotes, natural selection does not eliminate them as easily, preserving genetic variation.
Conclude that diploidy helps maintain genetic diversity by allowing recessive alleles to persist in the population, even if they are not advantageous when expressed.