I found a link to Wikipedia about people born with only two toes, is this an example of genetic drift?

Question

I also read about these people in an old National Geographic magazine i had and it made me think about genetic drift and genetic diversity, could this genetic trait be the result of genetic drift?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadoma there's the link about these people.

Here is a link to a picture of what they look like.

http://home.comcast.net/~aronra/Vadoma.jpg

Answer 1

its possible. You would first have to rule out that it occured due to a defective gene. When genetic drift does occur, eventually either 100% of the population or 0% of that population end up with that genetic trait. A Better example may be found in a certain tribe in africa where most of its people have six toes and six fingers on each hand and foot instead of five.

Answer 2

JK lol No but everyone on yahoo is! JK lol Actualy im more in the camp that genetic drift is occuring in people with mental illnesses. Some people with schizophrenia and such like mental illnesses use alot more then the avarage 6-10% of there brain. But normaly its just regions with super activity vs regions with alot less activity. I believe the human brain to be evolving and part of it is probably because it has to ta deal with all these magnetic waves we are creating with electricty. I cant tell you what the human brain will look like in 100 years but I can tell you that mine is already way different then the normal persons brain and I go into relapses that would make a horror movie look like toy time. But after these relapses I have sooooo much mental energy and can think clearer then I ever have before. So I think someday people will be born that can think this clear and have energy levels very high but before that happens we will go through a dark age possibly where the brains of most people are in constant relapse possibly. Of course we have meds and stuff to deal with the negitive side effects but they may also be perventing the possitive side effects also. Its really hard to say 4 sure but there is alot of interesting changes happening in humans evolutionary and technologicly so expect massive change one way or the other is about all I can say.

Answer 3

It is, of course, caused by a mutation or "defective gene", that's not the issue here. The main point is that this has appeared in a SMALL reproductively isolated population. Genetic drift refers to an increase in the frequency of a particular allele (a new mutation in this case) due to 'sampling error' in a small population rather than due to natural selection. The interesting thing about this case is that the new allele also appears to be advantageous (it aids in tree climbing). Therefore, this could be a case where BOTH forces are at play.

Answer 4

The article sounds like it is describing a mutation that is common in a small population... yup, that's genetic drift.

Genetic drift is when a trait becomes common in a population by chance alone. It happens in a small population that has become isolated. That trait is not necessarily adaptive. I think genetic drift is really neat because it shows that you can have evolution without natural selection.

Answer 5

Super cool. This belongs in textbooks. Yes, it's genetic drift, and a nice example of it. If the Vadoma were not an isolated population, ttwo-toedness would be a rare allele.

Answer 6

i've saw that on the national geographic channel and the explanation was that the people there marry even their relatives.. so the chance that the recessive genes will be more pronounced, resulting to it..well, you can consider that as a genetic drift..

Answer 7

I just saw this on Discovery Health. It is genetic. If a person with it marries a normal person, their children have a 50/50 chance of having it too. The gene(s) for this has not been identified yet.

Answer 8

Well ignore all the stereotype stuff. Stereotypes mean nothing. Just because he is into theatre, does not mean he is gay. And just because he doesn't play sports doe not mean he is gay. When you said he was all over you, and tickling you and such, does he do that to anyone else? Is he a "touchy" kind of guy, or was that the first time he has ever acted like that to any guy. With the "gay comments" do you think he was just kidding, because unfortunately people like to joke about that topic. Next time he makes a gay comment than just tell him that you are cool with him being gay before he says just kidding. If your friend really is in fact gay, than support him. And let him know that you have his support.

Answer 9

Its genetic mutation....not sure if that helps...