Question

Why can increasing homozygosity in a population be detrimental?

Short answer

Increasing homozygosity within a population can be detrimental because it decreases genetic diversity, essential for survival and adaptation of a species. It's also associated with increased inbreeding, potentially leading to manifestation of harmful alleles, which can decrease overall population fitness.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Homo- and Heterozygosity

Firstly, understand the difference between homozygosity and heterozygosity. In short, an individual is homozygous for a gene when identical alleles of the gene are present on both homologous chromosomes. On the other hand, an individual is heterozygous when different alleles of a gene are present on both homologous chromosomes.

Implication of Increasing Homozygosity within Population

Next, comprehend the implications of increasing homozygosity within a population. Higher levels of homozygosity mean less genetic diversity. Considering that genetic diversity is crucial for survival of any species as it allows them to adapt to changes in their environment, a decrease in genetic diversity can consequently be detrimental.

Understanding the Detrimental Consequence of Homozygosity

When there's increasing homozygosity within a population, it suggests that there's increased inbreeding. Inbreeding can lead to the manifestation of harmful alleles, which could be detrimental. This happens as harmful recessive alleles are more likely to meet and cause phenotypic effects in an inbred population, potentially leading to decreased overall fitness.