A small population of chimpanzees are living in a habitat that undergoes no changes for a long period. How might genetic drift affect this population?
a. will accelerate the appearance of new traits
b. will promote survival of chimpanzees with beneficial traits
c. will increase the number of alleles for specific traits
d. will reduce genetic diversity
I thought it might be a, but the answer is d. Isn't genetic drift caused when the populations are isolated, and one species evolves into two? If so, then why is genetic diversity reduced?
2007-04-23 16:06:01 · 5 answers · asked by sparklycrayons 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Genetic drift doesn't have to result in speciation. Genetic drift just refers to the changes in a gene pool over time. A single population can have genetic drift. The comparison isn't with another population, but the comparison is with the same population some time in the past.
If the habitat is having no change, then it's not likely that the population will have changes. In fact, the population may come to have fewer differences because the habitat and conditions will favor particular traits over and over again. This will reduce genetic diversity in comparison with the diversity that might have been in the same population in past generations.
2007-04-23 16:15:48 · answer #1 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's d.
The evolution of two species from one is called speciation.
Genetic diversity is reduced because genetic drift means that the allele frequencies for a gene (or multiple genes) changes; that is, one allele will become more frequent and another will be less frequent. This happens when a population is isolated if the environmental conditions do not change. In such a case, there may be no need for the less frequent allele, and it could be close to eliminated from the population. Thus, if alleles disappear, genetic diversity decreases.
2007-04-23 23:13:27 · answer #2 · answered by Sci Fi Insomniac 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot homozygous traits (geneotype) will be expressed. Because there will more in breeding (i.e. New Zealand) Natural section will occur because a rare trait will become a dominant trait. Natural selection likes rare traits that increases the odds in the long run. I.e. Japanese white and red monkey. Forgot real name.IT''S ALL OF THE ABOVE.
THERE IS A TWO PERCENT DNA DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HUMANS AND CHIMPS. A mordern day human example is sickle cell anemia.
2007-04-23 23:30:12 · answer #3 · answered by sparkles 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
D, because alleles are easily lost in a small population
2007-04-23 23:33:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
D due to small population and no change in environment over time.
2014-01-30 12:40:09 · answer #5 · answered by Precella 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋