A high rate of genetic mutation and the founder effect are two other factors that influence the persistence of CF in people with European ancestry. What is the founder effect? How may the founder effect account for additional amplification of allele frequency in emigrant communities?
The founder effect is a phenomenon that occurs when a small group of individuals leave a larger population and establish a new, isolated population in a different geographic area. These individuals have only a limited subset of the genetic variation that was present in the original population, and the genetic makeup of the new population is therefore significantly influenced by the alleles present in the founders.
In emigrant communities, the founder effect can lead to additional amplification of allele frequency for certain diseases, including CF. This occurs because the founders of the emigrant community may carry a higher frequency of the CF allele than the general population, and subsequent generations within the community interbreed and pass on these alleles. As a result, the incidence of CF within the emigrant community may be higher than in the general population. Additionally, the limited genetic diversity within the new population may allow deleterious, disease-causing mutations to persist and become more prevalent over time.