Genetic drift primarily occurs in which type of populations?

Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that results from random changes in allele frequencies in a population, particularly affecting smaller populations. In small populations, chance events can significantly alter the gene pool because there are fewer individuals to contribute to the next generation. This random fluctuation can lead to certain alleles becoming more common or even being completely lost over time.

In contrast, larger populations tend to have more genetic stability because the effects of random events are diluted across a greater number of individuals. Factors such as high migration rates and stable environments with low mutation rates do not primarily drive genetic drift, as they tend to promote genetic diversity and stability rather than the random changes characteristic of genetic drift. Thus, small populations with increased allele variation are particularly susceptible to the effects of genetic drift.