Do you think that genetic drift might be important for endangered species? Why or why not?

Question

Do you think that genetic drift might be important for endangered species? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Do we actually know of a species that has had genetic drift that makes it unable to continue to procreated? This might happen if two populations originally separated drift back together, still attracted to each other but producing only sterile or no offspring. Does it actually happen?

What we more see in endangered populations is failure to experience enough genetic drift to enable it to deal with some change in its environment.

Answer 2

Interesting question.  I would think it important in two ways.  Genetic drift over a long enough time period is inevitable if you believe in evolution (if you don't, sorry, I cannot help you.  Maybe praying can : ).    Sufficient drift will make it difficult, then impossible, for the "drifters" to breed with the control group, further endangering the control group by decreasing the potential breeding population.  However, all is not lost, as the drift is normally a good thing, as most animals evolve to increase their chance of continuing the species.  As such we should expect the drifters to be better positioned to continue the species, although that will be cold comfort to your endangered control group, as once they've drifted far enough they are in all likelihood a different species.

Donfletcheryh - arguably every discrete species on earth, if you subscribe to the theory that they had a common origin.   But your point is well taken, although I don't know when one decides that a drifted species is no longer the same species as the original.