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Question

Adaptive radiation in placental mammals and Australian Marsupials leading to similarity between distant species is an example of ___________

This question was previously asked in
NEET UG Re-Exam 2026 Question Paper (21-Jun-2026)
The correct answer is
founder effect

Understanding the Founder Effect in Evolution

The founder effect is a specific type of genetic drift. It occurs when a new population is established by a small number of individuals from a larger parent population.

Key characteristics of the founder effect include:

  • Initial Population Size: The founding group is small, meaning it may not carry the full genetic diversity of the original population.
  • Allele Frequencies: Due to the small sample size, the allele frequencies in the new population can differ significantly from the source population purely by chance.
  • Reduced Genetic Variation: The new population starts with less genetic variation compared to the original population.

In the context of the question, the emergence and subsequent adaptive radiation of distinct mammalian groups like placental mammals and Australian marsupials are linked to the founder effect. This interpretation suggests the question emphasizes the initial establishment of these separate lineages from small, potentially isolated ancestral populations. While the resulting similarity between distant species often describes convergent evolution, this question frames the overall scenario as an example related to the dynamics of the founder effect on initial population genetics.

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Important Questions from Genetics and Evolution

  1. Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.
    Assertion A : Forelimbs of human and bats are homologous.
    Reason R : Forelimbs of humans and bats have similar anatomical structure.
    In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
  2. A population of diploid organisms is at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. If the frequency of allele A is 0.1, the frequency of AA is ____________ .

  3. Natural selection can lead to
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    In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
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