Genetic analysis of a large population of mink inhabiting an island in Michigan revealed an unusual number of loci where one allele was fixed. Which of the following is the most probable explanation for this genetic homogeneity?
a. A very small number of mink may have colonized this island, and this founder effect and subsequent genetic drift could have fixed many alleles.
b. The population exhibited nonrandom mating, producing a high proportion of homozygous genotypes.
c. The gene pool of this population experienced high gene flow.
d. Natural selection has not had enough time to produce substantial genetic variation.
e. The colonizing population may have had much more genetic diversity, but very recent genetic drift may have fixed these alleles by chance.
Answer: a. A very small number of mink may have colonized this island, and this founder effect and subsequent genetic drift could have fixed many alleles.
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