New mutations that arise within a population are typically lost primarily do to
A)most mutations occur in individuals that are exposed to environmental mutagens and they therefore experience mutations in many different genes which means that they do not survive to reproduce.
B)most mutations are lethal.
C)new mutations all result in a lower reproductive fitness.
D)populations are of a finite size and new mutations are frequently lost by genetic drift.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Populations are of a finite size, and new mutations are frequently lost by genetic drift. In small populations, genetic drift can have a significant impact on the frequency of alleles, and new mutations may not be passed on to future generations simply because they were not present in the individuals who happened to reproduce. Thus, while some mutations may be lethal or result in lower reproductive fitness, the primary reason for the loss of new mutations is due to genetic drift in small populations.

New Mutations That Arise Within a Population Are Typically Lost