Biology : PU-CET (U.G) 2016 Panjab University Entrance Exam With Answers

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8.

Genetic Drift Is Most Likely To Occur :

A: Among Migrating Population
B: In Populations Which Show No Mutations
C: In Very Large Sized Population
D: In Populations Which Are Geographically Isolated

The answer is: D

Explanation

Genetic drift is most likely to occur in populations which are geographically isolated. Genetic drift is a random process of allele frequency change in a population over time, and it can occur due to various reasons, such as random sampling of individuals during reproduction, population bottlenecks, or founder effects.

When a population is geographically isolated, it may experience genetic drift due to reduced gene flow from other populations. In small isolated populations, genetic drift can have a significant impact on the allele frequencies, and some alleles may be lost or fixed over time. This can lead to reduced genetic diversity within the population and can increase the risk of inbreeding and genetic disorders.

Option A is incorrect as migration can increase gene flow between populations, reducing the effect of genetic drift.

Option B is incorrect as mutations are the ultimate source of genetic variation, and populations with no mutations would not exist.

Option C is incorrect as larger populations are less prone to genetic drift as they have a larger gene pool and can buffer against random fluctuations in allele frequencies.