What is the founder effect in genetic drift?

The founder effect in genetic drift refers specifically to the situation where a small group of individuals breaks away from a larger population to form a new population. This small group may carry only a fraction of the genetic diversity found in the original population. As a result, the new population's genetic makeup is often significantly different from that of the original population due to the limited number of alleles carried by the founders. This effect can lead to reduced genetic diversity and can influence evolutionary pathways, particularly if the new population is isolated from the original one. Thus, the choice indicating isolation of a few individuals from a larger population accurately captures the essence of the founder effect, highlighting its significance in evolutionary biology and conservation genetics.