Genetic drift

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/genetic-drift

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Genetic drift?Inversely proportional to population size (more significant in smaller populations)
2. What is the scientific concept?Random changes in allele frequencies within a population due to chance events
3. What is the key principle?Sampling error in allele transmission from one generation to the next

Allele Frequency: The relative proportion of a specific allele within a population's gene pool.
Fixation: The state where an allele becomes the only variant present in a population, reaching 100% frequency.
Founder Effect: A type of genetic drift occurring when a new population is established by a small number of individuals.
Population Bottleneck: A sharp reduction in population size, leading to reduced genetic diversity and increased drift.