Question

Which of the following ways is most likely to decrease the genetic diversity in a population?

• A. Gene mutation
• B. Genetic recombination
• C. Stabilising natural selection
• D. Immigration of individuals

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

• Genetic diversity is the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. For example, The genetic diversity shown by the medicinal plant Rauwolfia vomitoria growing in different Himalayan ranges might be in terms of the potency and concentration of the active chemical (reserpine) that the plant produces.
• Genetic variation is an important force in evolution as it allows natural selection to increase or decrease the frequency of alleles already in the population.
  
• Stabilizing natural selection is most likely to decrease the genetic diversity in a population because the frequency of alleles remains constant in stabilized natural selection.
  
• So, the correct answer is 'Stabilising natural selection'.