A founder effect, as related to genetics, refers to the reduction in genomic variability. It occurs when a small group of individuals becomes separated from a larger population.
- Over time, the resulting new subpopulation will have genotypes and physical traits resembling the initial small, separated group, and these may be very different from the original larger population.
- A founder effect can also explain why certain inherited diseases are found more frequently in some limited population groups.
- In some cases, a founder effect can play a role in the emergence of new species.
- Founder effects arise from population bottlenecks and also due to other factors, including migration, geographic isolation, and even cultural and marriage practices, such as endogamy and consanguinity.
- From a biomedical perspective, founder effects and populations could also confer specific diseases and traits, common and shared between members, at a higher frequency than their prevalence in the general population.
