Genetic Drift: A Fascinating Example of Population Genetics

How does the frequency of familial hypercholesterolemia differ between the Afrikaner population of South Africa and the original European population?

Is genetic drift responsible for this difference in frequency?

Familial Hypercholesterolemia Frequency Discrepancy

The frequency of familial hypercholesterolemia is five times higher in the Afrikaner population of South Africa compared to the original European population. This significant difference suggests a unique genetic phenomenon at play.

Genetic drift, as illustrated in this scenario, is indeed responsible for the disparity in familial hypercholesterolemia frequency between the Afrikaner population and the original European population. This phenomenon occurs when random events lead to changes in allele frequencies within a population, particularly in smaller populations.

The Afrikaner community, originating from a small group of pioneers from the Netherlands, Germany, and France who settled in South Africa centuries ago, experienced a shift in the prevalence of the familial hypercholesterolemia-associated gene due to genetic drift. The founder effect, where a small group establishes a new population with a different allele frequency than the larger source population, contributed to this genetic divergence.

Therefore, the increased occurrence of familial hypercholesterolemia among Afrikaners compared to their European ancestors is a compelling example of how genetic drift can result in notable variations within populations over time.