A farmer decides to go into the business of raising trout for tourists who enjoy fishing. She builds six trout ponds and stocks each of them with trout from genetically identical stock. Her friends tell her that because she started each pond with just a few trout, she has created a bottleneck effect and her trout populations are likely to become genetically different rapidly. Which of the following statements about her trout is likely true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement that her trout populations are likely to become genetically different rapidly due to the bottleneck effect is correct. However, it is unlikely to occur quickly since the populations will likely diverge evolutionarily only over many generations due to experiencing different mutations in different ponds. Option A is incorrect since genetically identical individuals still experience mutations and can diverge evolutionarily. Option B is incorrect since not every mutation will have a huge impact, and genetic drift can also play a role. Option D is incorrect since the scenario does not involve sexual reproduction.

A Farmer Decides to Go into the Business of Raising