The genetic drift refers to the process of changes of the allele frequencies for generations in a random way. There are two types of the genetic drift. They include the bottleneck and founder effects. The bottleneck effect takes place in the existence of a disaster that lowers a population to a small group, which does not reflect the initial real genetic formation of the initial one (Baker, 2014). The impact of this development is a small variation among the individuals that survive. Scholars have even moved to describe the genetic bottlenecks, which they refer to as events in which the size of a population is decreased in a drastic manner.
This case takes place when the real frequency of alleles within a given population is not represented well in the new one. It is vital to note that the bottleneck effect can bring about excessive impact on the genetic diversity of a given population. The following case can illustrate the bottleneck effect. As a result of being hunted excessively, the Northern elephant seals have decreased their genetic diversity. The hunting activities decreased the size of their population to just about 20 individuals by the end of the 19th century. After this time, their population has been able to increase to over 30,000. However, their genes still hold the marks of the bottleneck effect. They currently have lower degree of genetic diversity than the Southern elephant seals, which are yet to be hunted the same way.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The founder effect is a genetic drift where there is the loss of the allelic diversity, which is related to the establishment of the new population f4rom a small size of individuals (Baker, 2014). This effect has been established in the human populations like the polydactyly among Amish communities or Kentucky’s Blue people. It is vital to note that the founder effect is an instant event, unlike in the case of the bottleneck effect, which takes time.
References
Baker, M. C. (2014). No evidence of a founder effect in Rainbow Lorikeet vocalisations following a population bottleneck. Emu , 114 (3), 197-205.
