Please help! Thank you so much and godbless your day <3 1. What is the probabili
ID: 150111 • Letter: P
Question
Please help! Thank you so much and godbless your day <3
1. What is the probability of an unusual neutral allele to get established in a small population? How does it compare with the situation in a large population? (repeat simulation as needed to come up with a probability).
What is the probability of a common allele to go extinct in a small population versus a large population?
With climate changing on the raise we expect weather to be more unpredictable than it has been. Also, habitat fragmentation renders population size smaller. Can you predict how increase climate change will affect the odds of an allele to go extinct in a small population?
Link to download excel file: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dsc69l928tu4r0m/Drift%20simulation%20II.xlsx?dl=1
Explanation / Answer
Please find the answers below:
Answer 1: A neutral allele is the one which is generally not affected by any biotic or abiotic stressors when present in a population. However, some sudden non-inhabitable changes can lead to changes in the neutral allele or provide an acclimatization benefit to the individuals having this allele thereby enhancing their survival. Thus, these individuals will spontaneously display remarkable improvement in their survival. After many generations, this acclimatization change will be deciphered in the form of adaptation and the allele will be permanently fixed/established in this population. This holds true for both small and large population, where it is easy to establish a new allele in large population comparatively.
Answer 2: It is possible, but not common that an already established allele might undergo extinction from a large population. This scenario is possible only when the allele either goes gametic mutations or experiences non-acclimatization changes. This failure of acclimatization is realised in the form of failed survival strategy and the allele is slowly eradicated from the large population.
Answer 3: When a set of poulation, small or large, resides in a geographical area, it undergoes many acclimatization and gradual adaptive changes to enhance their chances of survival according to the environment. However, the gene pool of the population is very diverse in nature even when the population size is small. Thus, any random gametic mutation which causes rapid failure of mutation can cause impairment in survival strategy and thus extinction of individuals from gene pool. This will result in failure of acclimatization with respect to the changing environment and resultant elimination of the responsible alleles from the gene pool.