Asked by Robin Sparks on Jun 07, 2024
Verified
What accounts for the fact that polydactylism is prevalent and Tay-Sachs disease is virtually absent in one human population in the United States, while Tay-Sachs disease is prevalent and polydactylism is virtually absent in another?
A) Natural selection has promoted these differences since humans live in many different environments.
B) Mutation rates differ among different loci.
C) There is little gene flow between the two populations.
D) The populations are small, and therefore genetic drift is a major factor in the determination of allele frequencies.
E) The alleles are fixed in these populations.
Polydactylism
A genetic variation resulting in more than the usual number of fingers or toes on the hands or feet, respectively.
Tay-Sachs Disease
A genetic disorder that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord progressively due to the absence of a vital enzyme, leading to severe neurological disability and death.
Genetic Drift
Refers to the random fluctuations in the frequency of alleles within a population over time, not due to natural selection.
- Detail the mechanisms responsible for the generation of new alleles and genetic variations.
- Perceive how natural selection, sexual selection, and genetic drift drive changes in microevolution.
Verified Answer
ML
Mateo LeybaJun 12, 2024
Final Answer :
C
Explanation :
Gene flow between populations is a major factor in determining the prevalence of genetic traits. Limited gene flow between the two populations in question would lead to the development of distinct genetic characteristics, such as the prevalence of polydactylism in one population and Tay-Sachs disease in another.
Learning Objectives
- Detail the mechanisms responsible for the generation of new alleles and genetic variations.
- Perceive how natural selection, sexual selection, and genetic drift drive changes in microevolution.