Genetic drift operates in `:`

Options

A. small isolated population
B. large isolated population
C. non-reproductive population
D. slow reproductive population

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Genetic Drift:**
- Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies within a population. Unlike natural selection, which is a directional process, genetic drift can lead to significant changes due to chance events.

2. **Identifying Conditions for Genetic Drift:**
- Genetic drift is most pronounced in small populations. In larger populations, random events have less impact on allele frequencies because the larger gene pool buffers against drastic changes.

3. **Example of Genetic Drift:**
- Consider a small population of beetles with two alleles: A (red beetles) and B (blue beetles). If a chance event, such as an elephant stepping on the population, disproportionately affects one color (e.g., red beetles), the allele frequencies will change dramatically.

4. **Impact of Population Size:**
- In a small population (e.g., 10 beetles), the loss of a few individuals can significantly alter the allele frequencies. In contrast, in a large population, the same event would have a negligible effect on the overall genetic makeup.

5. **Conclusion:**
- Therefore, genetic drift operates primarily in small, isolated populations where chance events can lead to significant changes in allele frequencies.

**Final Answer:**
Genetic drift operates in small, isolated populations.

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