"Genetic drift, also known as random genetic drift, allelic drift or the Wright effect, is the change in the frequency of an existing gene variant (allele) in a population due to random chance."
The effect of chance events on the frequencies of alleles (versions of genes) in a population over time.
Evolutionary theory: This is a foundational topic that underlies all discussions about genetic drift, providing an understanding of how genetic variation arises and spreads within populations over time.
Population genetics: This field explores how genetic drift and other forces such as selection, mutation, and migration cause changes in allele frequencies within populations.
Mendelian genetics: The basis of inheritance and how genes are passed from parents to offspring.
Founder effect: This occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, and is often associated with genetic drift.
Bottleneck effect: This occurs when a population experiences a severe reduction in size, leading to a loss of genetic diversity due to genetic drift.
Neutral theory of molecular evolution: This theory proposes that many genetic changes are neutral and neither advantageous nor disadvantageous, and thus spread through populations through genetic drift.
Genetic markers: These are specific genes or DNA sequences that are used to track genetic variation within populations.
Genetic diversity: This refers to the range of genetic variation within a population or species, and is affected by genetic drift as well as other evolutionary forces.
Evolutionary time scales: When considering genetic drift, it is essential to understand the time frames over which it operates and how it can shape populations over long periods.
Adaptation and natural selection: While genetic drift involves changes in allele frequencies that are not necessarily adaptive, natural selection acts on these changes, favoring those that enhance survival and reproduction.
Biogeography: The geographic distribution of species and populations can help to elucidate the role of genetic drift in shaping patterns of variation.
Phylogenetics: The study of evolutionary relationships between organisms can reveal patterns of genetic drift, including how fast it operates and its effects on genetic diversity.
Coalescent theory: This model simulates the process of genetic drift by tracking the patterns of descent of ancestral alleles through time.
Genetic drift in human populations: By examining genetic variation in different human populations around the world, researchers can better understand the effects of historical events such as migration, colonization, and population size changes on genetic drift.
Genetic drift in endangered species: Genetic drift can play a significant role in the loss of genetic diversity in endangered species, and efforts to conserve these populations often aim to counteract its effects.
Founder Effect: This occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population in a new location. The new population may have different allele frequencies than the original population due to chance occurrences.
Bottleneck Effect: This occurs when a large population is suddenly reduced in size due to a catastrophic event. The surviving population may have different allele frequencies than the original population due to chance occurrences.
Gene Flow: This occurs when individuals from one population migrate and mate with individuals from another population. This can change the allele frequencies of both populations.
Genetic Drafting: This is a theoretical model of the actual evolutionary process caused by genetic drift.
Hybrid Vigor: This occurs when hybrids between two different species or strains are more fit than their parents. This can lead to the spread of these hybrid alleles within the population.
Neutrality Theory: This is the idea that most molecular evolution is neutral and occurs as a result of genetic drift.
Coalescent Theory: This is a theoretical framework for understanding the genealogy of genes in a population over time. It is particularly useful for studying the effects of genetic drift.
Simpson's Paradox: This is a phenomenon where an association between two variables disappears or reverses when subgroups are combined. In the context of genetic drift, Simpson's Paradox can occur when drift causes differences between subpopulations that are opposite in direction from the overall trend.
"Genetic drift may cause gene variants to disappear completely and thereby reduce genetic variation. It can also cause initially rare alleles to become much more frequent and even fixed."
"When few copies of an allele exist, the effect of genetic drift is more notable, and when many copies exist, the effect is less notable."
"Vigorous debates occurred over the relative importance of natural selection versus neutral processes, including genetic drift."
"Ronald Fisher, who explained natural selection using Mendelian genetics, held the view that genetic drift plays at most a minor role in evolution."
"In 1968, population geneticist Motoo Kimura rekindled the debate with his neutral theory of molecular evolution."
"The neutral theory of molecular evolution claims that most instances where a genetic change spreads across a population (although not necessarily changes in phenotypes) are caused by genetic drift acting on neutral mutations."
"In the 1990s, constructive neutral evolution was proposed which seeks to explain how complex systems emerge through neutral transitions."
"Genetic drift may cause gene variants to disappear completely and thereby reduce genetic variation. It can also cause initially rare alleles to become much more frequent and even fixed."
"When few copies of an allele exist, the effect of genetic drift is more notable, and when many copies exist, the effect is less notable."
"Genetic drift, also known as random genetic drift, allelic drift or the Wright effect..."
"Vigorous debates occurred over the relative importance of natural selection versus neutral processes, including genetic drift."
"Ronald Fisher, who explained natural selection using Mendelian genetics..."
"Ronald Fisher held the view that genetic drift plays at most a minor role in evolution."
"In 1968, population geneticist Motoo Kimura rekindled the debate with his neutral theory of molecular evolution..."
"The neutral theory of molecular evolution claims that most instances where a genetic change spreads across a population... are caused by genetic drift acting on neutral mutations."
"Constructive neutral evolution was proposed which seeks to explain how complex systems emerge through neutral transitions."
"Genetic drift may cause gene variants to disappear completely and thereby reduce genetic variation."
"When few copies of an allele exist, the effect of genetic drift is more notable, and when many copies exist, the effect is less notable."
"Ronald Fisher, who explained natural selection using Mendelian genetics, held the view that genetic drift plays at most a minor role in evolution."