Biology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is the most important factor that determines whether a gene will spread or be eliminated from a population?

1. Gene flow

2. Natural selection

3. Genetic drift

4. Genomic convergence

The correct answer is: Natural selection

Natural selection is the most important factor that determines whether a gene will spread or be eliminated from a population. This is because natural selection is the process by which certain traits or characteristics are favored and become more common in a population over time, while others are selected against and become rarer. This is a key mechanism of evolution and can result in the spread or elimination of certain genes. Gene flow, or the transfer of genes between populations, is also an important factor in determining a gene's fate, as it can introduce new variations or maintain existing ones in a population. However, it is not the most important factor as it does not directly lead to the spread or elimination of a specific gene. Genetic drift, or the random changes in gene frequencies in a population, can also play a role in the spread or elimination of a gene, but it is not as significant as natural selection. This is