What is genetic drift?

Genetic drift refers to the phenomenon where allele frequencies in a population change due to random sampling of organisms. Unlike natural selection, which favors alleles that contribute to reproductive success, genetic drift can result in the loss or fixation of alleles in a population purely by chance. This is especially significant in small populations, where random events can have a larger impact on the genetic composition over time. Genetic drift can lead to reduced genetic variation and can even contribute to the differentiation of populations, making it an important mechanism in the study of evolutionary biology and population genetics.