XSIQ
*

Biology - Founder effect (principle)

Founder effect (principle)

Sometimes small groups from a population may be separated from the main or
original population. Plants and animals may be carried offshore as a result
of a storm, humans may migrate. The colonising population may not be
representative of the original population in relation to the frequency of
certain alleles; there may be some alleles missing altogether. Subsequent
generations of the colonising population will therefore develop very
different frequencies of alleles compared to the 'parent' population and
evolve differently, particularly if there are different selective
pressures.

There is a higher incidence (frequency) of Huntington's disorder in
Tasmania than in the mainland population of Australia. This has been traced
to the arrival of a single individual.

Previous | Next