Mutations Are the Ultimate Source of Genetic Variation

question 42

Multiple Choice

Mutations are the ultimate source of genetic variation. However, they usually occur at very low frequency. Assume a mutation resulting in a novel allele occurs in a gene of one individual in a population of 500 diploid individuals. The allele has no effect on the fitness of the individual carrying the mutation. How long will it take for the allele to reach a frequency of 0.5 in the population?

• A)It cannot reach a frequency of 0.5. It will eventually reach a frequency of 0.33 because the mutation means that there are three alleles at this locus in the population.
• B)It will eventually reach a frequency of 0.5, but a frequency of 0.5 will depend on the generation time for the individuals in the population.
• C)It could eventually reach a frequency of 0.5 or be fixed or lost from the population, but that will be a random effect based on the population and its size.
• D)It can only reach a frequency of 0.5 if it somehow confers a selective advantage on the individual with the mutation.

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