there are 25 individuals in population 1, all with genotype aa, and there are 40 individuals in population 2, all with genotype aa. assume that these populations are located far from each other and that their environmental conditions are very similar. based on the information given here, the observed genetic variation most likely resulted from __________.
Based on the information provided, the observed genetic variation most likely resulted from:
Genetic Drift:
The observed genetic variation in the two populations most likely resulted from genetic drift. Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies that occurs in small populations due to sampling error. In this case, both populations have a small number of individuals (25 in population 1 and 40 in population 2) with the same genotype (aa), which makes them more susceptible to genetic drift.
Since both populations are located far from each other and have very similar environmental conditions, the variations in their genotypes are more likely to be a result of random genetic drift rather than natural selection or migration. Over time, genetic drift can lead to the fixation of certain alleles or the loss of others in a population, contributing to genetic differentiation between populations.