The founder effect refers to
A) a population that frequently migrates to other parts of the world.
B) a newly discovered population of organism.
C) a group whose genetic origins can be traced to a small number of people.
D) a group whose genetic origins can be traced to a large number of people.
E) a group whose individuals are often marrying outside of the group.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The founder effect occurs when a new colony is started by a few members of the original population, and these members carry only a fraction of the original population's genetic variation. This can lead to a high frequency of certain genetic traits in the new population, as well as a potential loss of genetic diversity. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer as it refers to a group whose genetic origins can be traced to a small number of people.

The Founder Effect Refers to