founder effect
noun
: the effect on the resulting gene pool that occurs when a new isolated population is founded by a small number of individuals possessing limited genetic variation relative to the larger population from which they have migrated
Examples of founder effect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The common mutation implied that all the Laron patients were probably descended from a single individual, a phenomenon known in genetics as a founder effect.
—
Gary Taubes, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2013
Most notable of these assumptions is that the serial founder effect model is the only explanation available.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2011
The Kuusamo cluster could for example just be due to a founder effect from its recent settlement.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 23 Sep. 2010
That could be a founder effect, in which the initial group included fewer fertile males than females.
—Ann Gibbons, Science | AAAS, 16 June 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gary Taubes, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2013
Most notable of these assumptions is that the serial founder effect model is the only explanation available.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2011
The Kuusamo cluster could for example just be due to a founder effect from its recent settlement.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 23 Sep. 2010
That could be a founder effect, in which the initial group included fewer fertile males than females.
—Ann Gibbons, Science | AAAS, 16 June 2021
Dictionary Entries Near founder effect
Cite this Entry
“Founder effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/founder%20effect. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share