Which factor is most likely to increase genetic variation within a population?
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Correct answer: Mutation introducing new alleles
Mutation introduces new alleles and is the ultimate source of genetic variation. Drift and inbreeding tend to reduce variation, and stabilizing selection removes phenotypic extremes, lowering diversity.
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More Population genetics questions
- In a recessive disease, the carrier frequency is found to be approximately 1/25. What is the approximate disease prevalence?
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- A population in which one allele becomes 100% prevalent has undergone:
- Which situation exemplifies genetic drift?
- Which event increases homozygosity within a population?
- In Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which term represents the frequency of heterozygotes?