Which of the following is NOT one of the three ways population genetics can change?

The correct answer is hybridization because it is not one of the three primary mechanisms that directly lead to changes in population genetics. The three main processes that drive changes in genetic variation and allele frequencies within populations are natural selection, gene flow, and genetic drift.

Natural selection refers to the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype, which can lead to an increase in favorable traits in a given environment. Gene flow involves the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new alleles and alter allele frequencies. Genetic drift, on the other hand, is a random process that can lead to changes in allele frequencies, particularly in small populations, due to chance events.

Hybridization, while it can contribute to genetic change by mixing the genetic material of different species or populations, is not categorized among these three fundamental mechanisms. Instead, it often results in the formation of hybrids, which can possess varying characteristics from the parent species, but it does not inherently act as a direct process that changes population genetic structure in the same way as the other three mechanisms do. Thus, hybridization stands apart in this context.