Thirty people are selected for a long- term mission to colonize a planet many light years away from Earth.The mission is successful and the population rapidly grows to several hundred individuals.However,certain genetic diseases are unusually common in this group,and their gene pool is quite different from that of the Earth population they have left behind.Which of the following phenomena has left its mark on this population?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals colonize a new, isolated area, resulting in a limited gene pool and the potential for certain genetic traits, such as diseases, to be overrepresented in the population. This would likely occur in the scenario described, where a small group of individuals were selected for a long-term mission to colonize a planet many light years away from Earth. Therefore, the presence of certain genetic diseases and a different gene pool can be attributed to the founder effect.

Thirty People Are Selected for a Long- Term Mission to Colonize