Genetic diversity as the number of different alleles of genes in a population
Genetic diversity measures how many different versions of genes exist across all individuals in a population. More different versions means higher genetic diversity.
Formula
Genetic diversity = number of different alleles in a population
Real World
Cheetahs have extremely low genetic diversity — a genetic bottleneck caused by near-extinction thousands of years ago means individuals share up to 99% of their DNA, leaving the species highly vulnerable to disease.
Exam Focus
Define genetic diversity precisely in terms of alleles, not just 'genes' or 'traits' — the mark scheme requires the word allele.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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