The 'Bottleneck effect' in population genetics refers to: MCQ with Answer and Explanation

The bottleneck effect is a form of genetic drift that occurs when a population's size is drastically reduced for at least one generation due to a severe environmental event (like a natural disaster, disease, or overhunting). The surviving population is a random, small sample of the original, and its gene pool may not represent the original population's genetic diversity. This leads to a significant loss of genetic variation, making the population more vulnerable to future changes.