What is genetic drift in biology?

This refers to the process by which the frequency of a particular gene in an environment may be affected due to chance events. So, a particular genetic trait may be annihilated by, say, a catastrophe that wipes out a species. Meanwhile, other genes may be favoured by such random events. This is in contrast to natural selection wherein genes are gradually favoured or discarded by the natural environment in which they exist. Genetic drift is generally attributed to American geneticist Sewall Wright although it can be traced to earlier works of other scientists like Charles Darwin.

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