Genetic drift

Genetic drift is a natural process that causes random changes in the frequency of genes in a population over time. This happens due to chance events, particularly in small populations, where certain traits may become more or less common purely by random luck, rather than through natural selection. For example, if a few individuals with a specific trait happen to reproduce more than others by random chance, that trait can become more prevalent in the next generation. Over time, genetic drift can significantly affect the genetic diversity of a population, sometimes leading to the loss of certain traits entirely.