Question

Is genetic drift the same as gene flow?

Answer 1

Genetic drift:

1. Genetic drift is the change in the frequency of an existing allele or gene variant in a population.
2. It reduces genetic variation by making some of the gene variants to disappear permanently.
3. It works on a small population and leads to random changes in allele frequencies.
4. It leads to variations but does not cause any adaptation.

Gene flow:

1. Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material from one population (or species) to another.
2. It works on more than one population at once.
3. It helps the species which are in danger of extinction.
4. It leads to or results in the origin of new species.

So, no genetic drift is not the same as gene flow.