Question

a new mutation appears in one individual in a population of mole rats. that individual dies for reasons not related to the mutation and that mutation is lost to the population. this situation is an example of:

diversifying selection

genetic drift

stabilizing selection

adaptation

directional selection

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Diversifying selection: Increases genetic variation by favoring extreme phenotypes, not related to random loss of mutation.
• Genetic drift: Random changes in allele frequencies due to chance events (like an individual with a mutation dying randomly), which matches the scenario.
• Stabilizing selection: Favors intermediate phenotypes, reducing variation, not about random loss of a mutation.
• Adaptation: Process of organisms becoming better suited to environment, not about loss of mutation due to chance.
• Directional selection: Favors one extreme phenotype, leading to change in allele frequency in a direction, not random loss.

1. The situation describes a random loss of a mutation due to an individual's death (not related to the mutation), which is genetic drift.

Answer:

B. Genetic drift