What are effects of genetic drift on a population?

Genetic drift refers to the random fluctuations in allele frequencies within a population, which can lead to significant changes over time, particularly in small populations. One of the most notable effects of genetic drift is that it can result in changes in allele frequencies, meaning that certain alleles may become more or less common purely due to chance. This can lead to the fixation of certain alleles, where one specific allele becomes the only variant present within the population for a given gene. As a result, genetic drift can decrease genetic variation within the population, which may have long-term evolutionary consequences.

This process does not involve natural selection or any adaptive changes, as it operates on the principle of chance rather than on the fitness of individuals within the population. The phenomenon emphasizes the stochastic nature of allele frequency changes, highlighting how populations can evolve independently of specific selective pressures. In summary, the key aspect of genetic drift is its role in altering allele frequencies and potentially leading to fixation, which is reflected correctly in the answer.