Question

1. what is the relationship between genetic drift and population size? explain using specific evidence from figure 1. 2. why is it significant when an allele reaches a frequency of 1 in a population?

Explanation:

1. Genetic drift has a stronger effect in smaller populations. In small populations, random changes in allele frequencies due to genetic drift can be more pronounced. For example, if a small - sized population has a few individuals with a particular allele, random events like the death or non - reproduction of those individuals can quickly change the allele frequency. In larger populations, these random events have a relatively smaller impact on overall allele frequencies. Without seeing Figure 1, we can assume it might show that allele frequency changes are more erratic and extreme in smaller population size curves compared to larger ones.
2. When an allele reaches a frequency of 1 in a population, it means the allele is fixed. This is significant because it represents the complete loss of genetic variation at that locus within the population. All individuals in the population now have the same allele at that locus, which can limit the population's ability to adapt to future environmental changes as there is no alternative genetic material at that specific location.

Answer:

1. Genetic drift has a more significant impact on allele frequencies in smaller populations as random events can cause larger and more rapid changes in allele frequencies compared to larger populations.
2. An allele with a frequency of 1 is fixed in the population, resulting in the loss of genetic variation at that locus and potentially reducing the population's adaptability to future environmental changes.