Some biologists hypothesize that introns are maintained in eukaryotes because their population sizes are much smaller than in prokaryotes. ________ is the random, nonadaptive evolutionary process that explains this phenomenon.
A) Genetic drift
B) Natural selection
C) Protein synthesis
D) Transcription

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Genetic drift is a random process that can lead to the fixation or loss of alleles independent of their adaptive value. In small populations, genetic drift can play a significant role in shaping the genetic makeup of the population. The hypothesis that introns are maintained in eukaryotes because of smaller population sizes suggests that genetic drift may have played a role in the evolution of introns. Therefore, option A) Genetic drift is the best choice.

Some Biologists Hypothesize That Introns Are Maintained in Eukaryotes Because