Genetic drift is a gradual change in A - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 13 - 2019 - Paper 1

Genetic drift refers to the random fluctuations in allele frequencies within a population from one generation to the next. This process is due to chance events that can lead to certain alleles being passed on to the next generation at different rates, irrespective of their adaptive value. Unlike natural selection, which favors advantageous traits, genetic drift operates independently of the fitness of alleles, making it a key mechanism in evolution that can contribute to genetic diversity or loss within small populations.