Which concept describes alleles entering a population by immigration and leaving by emigration?

Which concept describes alleles entering a population by immigration and leaving by emigration?

• A. Mutation
• B. Gene Flow
• C. Natural Selection
• D. Genetic Drift

Answer: (B)

Gene flow is the movement of alleles into or out of a population through immigration and emigration. When individuals migrate into a population, they bring their genetic variants with them, which can introduce new alleles and shift allele frequencies. Conversely, when individuals leave a population, they take their alleles with them, reducing the frequency of those alleles in the original group. This process contrasts with mutation (new alleles arising within a population), natural selection (alleles changing in frequency due to differential survival and reproduction), and genetic drift (random fluctuations in allele frequencies, especially in small populations). Gene flow tends to homogenize genetic differences between populations and can spread advantageous or disadvantageous alleles across a species’ range, influencing evolutionary trajectories.

Gene flow is the movement of alleles into or out of a population through immigration and emigration. When individuals migrate into a population, they bring their genetic variants with them, which can introduce new alleles and shift allele frequencies. Conversely, when individuals leave a population, they take their alleles with them, reducing the frequency of those alleles in the original group. This process contrasts with mutation (new alleles arising within a population), natural selection (alleles changing in frequency due to differential survival and reproduction), and genetic drift (random fluctuations in allele frequencies, especially in small populations). Gene flow tends to homogenize genetic differences between populations and can spread advantageous or disadvantageous alleles across a species’ range, influencing evolutionary trajectories.