What is the founder effect?

The founder effect refers to a phenomenon in population genetics that occurs when a small group of individuals breaks away from a larger population to establish a new population. This small group may not represent the genetic diversity of the original population, leading to a reduced genetic variation in the new population. This happens because the genetic makeup of the new population is largely derived from the limited gene pool of the founding members, which can significantly influence the frequency of certain alleles (variations of a gene) within the new population.

In the context of the provided answer choices, the focus on "reduced genetic variation due to the migration of a few individuals" accurately captures the essence of the founder effect. This reduced genetic diversity can result in certain genetic traits becoming more pronounced in the new population, which can have various ecological or evolutionary consequences. Understanding this concept is essential as it illustrates how small population dynamics can lead to significant changes in genetic structure over time.