What is meant by genetic drift?

Genetic drift refers to the change in the frequency of gene variants (alleles) in a population due to random sampling of organisms. This phenomenon is particularly significant in small populations, where random events can lead to large changes in allele frequencies from one generation to the next. For instance, if a few individuals contribute disproportionately to the next generation's gene pool, regardless of their phenotypic traits, the alleles they carry can become more or less common simply due to chance. Over time, this can lead to reduced genetic variation and can even result in the fixation or loss of certain alleles within the population. Understanding genetic drift is essential in the study of evolutionary biology and population genetics, as it highlights how random events can shape the genetic structure of populations over time.