Consider a Collection of 50 Distinct Alleles, Each at Equal

question 3

Multiple Choice

Consider a collection of 50 distinct alleles, each at equal frequency in a population. The time before the first coalescent event will be shortest if

• A) N_e = 100.
• B) N_e = 100,000.
• C) N_e = 100,000,000.
• D) N_e = the census population size.

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Definitions:

Demographic Bottleneck

A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events or human activities, leading to a decrease in genetic diversity and potential survival challenges for the population.

Genetic Drift

A mechanism of evolution that involves random fluctuations in the frequencies of alleles (variations of a gene) in a population, particularly in small populations.

Inbreeding Depression

A decrease in biological fitness and health in a population due to breeding between closely related individuals.

Survivorship Curves

Graphical representations that show the number of individuals of a species or a population that survive at each age.