17. Genetic equilibrium can be disrupted in many ways. Which of the following describes changes in the allele frequencies of a population that are often unpredictable or due to chance? A. Genetic drift B. Migration C. Mutation D. Nonrandom mating

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17
**Genetic Equilibrium Disruption**

**Question:**
17. Genetic equilibrium can be disrupted in many ways. Which of the following describes changes in the allele frequencies of a population that are often unpredictable or due to chance?

- A. Genetic drift
- B. Migration
- C. Mutation
- D. Nonrandom mating

**Explanation:**
This question is from a subject associated with population genetics, a field within biology that studies the distribution of and changes in allele frequencies under the influence of evolutionary processes. The maintenance of genetic equilibrium in a population is a fundamental concept, commonly discussed under the Hardy-Weinberg principle. However, this equilibrium can be disrupted by several factors.

**Answer:**
The correct option is **A. Genetic drift**. 

**Detailing Each Option:**

- **A. Genetic drift:** Refers to random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population, which can cause significant changes in the population over time, especially in small populations. It is a stochastic event, often unpredictable and due to chance.
  
- **B. Migration:** This involves the movement of individuals into or out of a population, which can introduce new alleles into the population or remove them, thus changing allele frequencies.

- **C. Mutation:** These are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome. While mutations introduce new alleles into a population and thus affect genetic variation, they do not solely account for the unpredictable changes implied in genetic drift.

- **D. Nonrandom mating:** This refers to mate selection based on specific traits, leading to changes in allele frequencies. While influential, nonrandom mating mainly affects genotype frequencies rather than allele frequencies and is not typically classified as a chance event.

**Note:** The provided image displays a screenshot of a quiz question on genetic equilibrium, showing a laptop with an HP logo and part of a keyboard with visible application icons on the browser. The context of the image is to provide an example of an educational platform's interface where such questions might be presented.
Transcribed Image Text:**Genetic Equilibrium Disruption** **Question:** 17. Genetic equilibrium can be disrupted in many ways. Which of the following describes changes in the allele frequencies of a population that are often unpredictable or due to chance? - A. Genetic drift - B. Migration - C. Mutation - D. Nonrandom mating **Explanation:** This question is from a subject associated with population genetics, a field within biology that studies the distribution of and changes in allele frequencies under the influence of evolutionary processes. The maintenance of genetic equilibrium in a population is a fundamental concept, commonly discussed under the Hardy-Weinberg principle. However, this equilibrium can be disrupted by several factors. **Answer:** The correct option is **A. Genetic drift**. **Detailing Each Option:** - **A. Genetic drift:** Refers to random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population, which can cause significant changes in the population over time, especially in small populations. It is a stochastic event, often unpredictable and due to chance. - **B. Migration:** This involves the movement of individuals into or out of a population, which can introduce new alleles into the population or remove them, thus changing allele frequencies. - **C. Mutation:** These are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome. While mutations introduce new alleles into a population and thus affect genetic variation, they do not solely account for the unpredictable changes implied in genetic drift. - **D. Nonrandom mating:** This refers to mate selection based on specific traits, leading to changes in allele frequencies. While influential, nonrandom mating mainly affects genotype frequencies rather than allele frequencies and is not typically classified as a chance event. **Note:** The provided image displays a screenshot of a quiz question on genetic equilibrium, showing a laptop with an HP logo and part of a keyboard with visible application icons on the browser. The context of the image is to provide an example of an educational platform's interface where such questions might be presented.
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