Question

Can genetic drift lead to extinction?

Answer 1

Genetic drift:

1. Random changes in allele frequency in a small population are known as genetic drift.
2. Genetic drift can result in the loss of alleles from the population.
3. Ultimately, these alleles will become extinct, or the entire population can become extinct.
4. This can eventually cause rapid evolution.
5. Genetic drift arises from the bottleneck effect and Founder effect.
6. Genetic drift can result in a new population emerging that is genetically distinct from the original population.
7. So, genetic drift has a role in the evolution of a new species.
8. The original species can become extinct, the new species will be genetically different from the original one.