genetic drift

American  

noun

1. random changes in the frequency of alleles in a gene pool, usually of small populations.

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genetic drift Scientific  

1. Variation in the frequency of a gene in a small isolated population, thought to be due to random chance rather than natural selection.

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genetic drift Cultural  

1. A term that describes the random fluctuations in a gene pool over time. In large populations, the effects of genetic drift are negligible. (Compare natural selection.)

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Etymology

Origin of genetic drift

First recorded in 1955–60

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Compare meaning

How does genetic-drift compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• gene flow vs. genetic drift

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

genetic drift

Together, these genomic signals suggest that these leopards are small because they’ve adapted that way, and not only because of isolation or genetic drift.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 24, 2026

Its genetic drift is significantly different from BA.4 and BA.5, the variants last year's bivalent boosters were targeted against.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2023

Biologists have long known that mutations can become more common in a population thanks to the vagaries of history — a process called genetic drift.

From New York Times ● Oct. 19, 2022

They think random genetic drift is driving some of the differences.

From Science Magazine ● Aug. 24, 2022

In other words, allele frequencies remain stable from generation to generation if certain conditions are met: no mutations, no gene flow, random mating, no genetic drift, and no selection.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

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