variation in the frequency of genes in a population due to random chance events
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is called genetic drift. Genetic drift can occur in small populations, where chance events like natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or random mating can reduce the diversity of genes and increase the frequency of particular alleles. Over time, genetic drift can lead to the loss of some alleles and fixation of others, which can have important evolutionary consequences. Genetic drift is one of the key mechanisms of evolution, alongside natural selection, mutation, and gene flow.