Genetic drift
A) reduces genetic variation within a population.
B) increases divergence (variation) between populations.
C) affects only neutral alleles.
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Genetic drift leads to a reduction in genetic variation within a population because alleles can become fixed or lost entirely by chance. It also increases divergence between populations as these random changes accumulate differently in isolated groups, leading to increased genetic differences between them. Genetic drift can affect all alleles, not just neutral ones, although its effects are most noticeable on neutral alleles because they are not subject to selection pressures.

Genetic Drift