High School

The frequency of A1 among Continental populations of bats is 0.95. On a nearby island, the frequency of A1 is 0.65. There are approximately 1000 bats on the island, and each generation, an average of one bat migrates from the continent to the island. How does the frequency of A1 on the continent change from one generation to the next?

A. The frequency of A1 on the continent will decrease by 0.0003 in each generation.
B. The frequency of A1 on the continent will not be affected by migration to or from the island.
C. The frequency of A2 on the continent will increase by 0.0003 in each generation.
D. The question cannot be answered given the information provided.

Answer :

Final answer:

The frequency of A1 on the continent will decrease by 0.0003 in each generation due to migration from the island. Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Explanation:

The frequency of A1 on the continent will decrease by 0.0003 in each generation due to migration from the island. Genetic drift, which is the random change in allele frequencies in a population, occurs more quickly on an island compared to the mainland. This is because the island has a smaller population size, which increases the effect of genetic drift. As bats migrate from the continent to the island, the frequency of A1 in the population of the continent decreases over time.

The smaller island population magnifies the stochastic nature of genetic drift, leading to faster changes in allele frequencies. As bats migrate, the continuous influence of genetic drift contributes to the observed decrease in the frequency of A1 on the continent, illustrating the dynamic interplay between migration, population size, and genetic processes.