Why does genetic drift have more of an impact on the evolution of small populations than large ones?
A)Small populations have greater rates of mutation.
B)Small populations are affected more by stabilizing selection.
C)Sampling from generation to generation is more variable in small populations than large.
D)Small populations are more prone to migration.
E)Small populations are less affected by mutations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Genetic drift is the random fluctuation of allele frequencies in a population, and its impact is more pronounced in small populations because the sampling from generation to generation is more variable in small populations than in large ones. In other words, the change in the frequency of an allele due to random sampling is much greater in a small population, which can lead to the loss or fixation of an allele more quickly.

Why Does Genetic Drift Have More of an Impact on the Evolution