Familial hypercholesterolemia,an autosomal dominant disease,is five times more frequent in the Afrikaaner population of South Africa than in the population of Europe or the United States.This represents an example of:

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The higher frequency of familial hypercholesterolemia in the Afrikaaner population of South Africa compared to Europe or the United States suggests a founder effect. This occurs when a small group of individuals found a population, and their genetic makeup is overrepresented in subsequent generations due to limited genetic diversity. In this case, it appears that the ancestors of the Afrikaaner population who carried the familial hypercholesterolemia gene were a small group and that subsequently, the gene became more common in the population. This is consistent with the definition of a founder effect.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia,an Autosomal Dominant Disease,is Five Times More Frequent in the Afrikaaner