Founder Effect Skip to main content En Español Social Icons Facebook Twitter YouTube Main Navigation About Genomics Introduction to Genomics Educational Resources Policy Issues in Genomics The Human Genome Project Research Funding Funding Opportunities Funded Programs & Projects Division and Program Directors Scientific Program Analysts Contacts by Research Area News & Events Research at NHGRI Research Areas Research Investigators Research Projects Clinical Research Data Tools & Resources News & Events Health Genomics & Medicine Family Health History For Patients & Families For Health Professionals Careers & Training Jobs at NHGRI Training at NHGRI Funding for Research Training Professional Development Programs NHGRI Culture News & Events News Events Social Media Videos Image Gallery Press Resources About NHGRI Organization NHGRI Director Mission and Vision Policies and Guidance Budget Institute Advisors Strategic Vision Leadership Initiatives Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Partner with NHGRI Staff Search Contact Us Breadcrumb Home About Genomics Educational Resources Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms Founder Effect Home About Genomics Educational Resources Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms Main Navigation About Genomics Overview Introduction to Genomics Educational Resources Policy Issues in Genomics The Human Genome Project Research Funding Overview Funding Opportunities Funded Programs & Projects Division and Program Directors Scientific Program Analysts Contacts by Research Area News & Events Research at NHGRI Overview Research Areas Research Investigators Research Projects Clinical Research Data Tools & Resources News & Events Health Overview Genomics & Medicine Family Health History For Patients & Families For Health Professionals Careers & Training Overview Jobs at NHGRI Training at NHGRI Funding for Research Training Professional Development Programs NHGRI Culture News & Events Overview News Events Social Media Videos Image Gallery Press Resources About NHGRI Overview Organization NHGRI Director Mission and Vision Policies and Guidance Budget Institute Advisors Strategic Vision Leadership Initiatives Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Partner with NHGRI Staff Search Contact Us En Español Social Icons Facebook Twitter YouTube Breadcrumb Home About Genomics Educational Resources Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms Founder Effect Home About Genomics Educational Resources Talking Glossary of Genomic and Genetic Terms Founder Effect updated: December 27, 2022 Definition 00:0000:60 A founder effect, as related to genetics, refers to the reduction in genomic variability that occurs when a small group of individuals becomes separated from a larger population. Over time, the resulting new subpopulation will have genotypes and physical traits resembling the initial small, separated group, and these may be very different from the original larger population. A founder effect can also explain why certain inherited diseases are found more frequently in some limited population groups. In some cases, a founder effect can play a role in the emergence of new species. Narration 00:0000:44 Founder effect can result in the smaller population that left the larger population to have less genetic diversity. And the way I look at this is, the arc of Africa migration 100,000 years ago created what is considered the original founder effect, in the sense of the small group of people that left Africa to populate the rest of the world actually lived with only a subset of the population that existed, the genetic variation that existed at that time. Charles Rotimi, Ph.D. Scientific Director Division of Intramural Research Search Back to Glossary Related Gene Pool Genetic Drift Genomic Variation Genotype Get Updates Enter your email address to receive updates about the latest advances in genomics research. Social Media Stream Follow Us NHGRI's Genomic Innovator Awards aim to support innovative work by genomics investigators who are early in their careers and part of team-science efforts. Now you can hear about their exciting and groundbreaking research in our new seminar series!Join us for our first Genomic Innovator seminar on September 29 at 3:00 p.m. ET, where Luca Pinello and Karen Mohlke will present their work: “Playing genomic battleship with CRISPR technologies to uncover non-coding functional elements and their phenotypic effects.” https://nih.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_379bc2lDROO2SakD1AeQEwMake our DNA origami and you will for sure be the one that goes to Paris this year. genome.gov/DNAorigamiResearchers at NHGRI have discovered a network of proteins that are needed to restore hearing in zebrafish through cell regeneration! This study could provide insights into new treatments for hearing loss in humans, who share 70% of the same genes as zebrafish. Learn more: https://www.genome.gov/news/news-release/genomics-study-identifies-unique-set-of-proteins-that-restores-hearing-in-zebrafish Footer Links Contact Accessibility Site Map Staff Search Plug-Ins Used by HHS FOIA Privacy Copyright HHS Vulnerability Disclosure PreviousPowered byNational Human Genome Research Institute3moNHGRI's Genomic Innovator Awards aim to support innovative work by genomics investigators who are early in their careers and part of team-science efforts. Now you can hear about their exciting and groundbreaking research in our new seminar series!Join us for our first Genomic Innovator seminar on September 29 at 3:00 p.m. ET, where Luca Pinello and Karen Mohlke will present their work: “Playing genomic battleship with CRISPR technologies to uncover non-coding functional elements and their phenotypic effects.” https://nih.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_379bc2lDROO2SakD1AeQEw6National Human Genome Research Institute3moMake our DNA origami and you will for sure be the one that goes to Paris this year. genome.gov/DNAorigami252National Human Genome Research Institute3moResearchers at NHGRI have discovered a network of proteins that are needed to restore hearing in zebrafish through cell regeneration! This study could provide insights into new treatments for hearing loss in humans, who share 70% of the same genes as zebrafish. Learn more: https://www.genome.gov/news/news-release/genomics-study-identifies-unique-set-of-proteins-that-restores-hearing-in-zebrafish123National Human Genome Research Institute3moNHGRI's Genomic Innovator Awards aim to support innovative work by genomics investigators who are early in their careers and part of team-science efforts. Now you can hear about their exciting and groundbreaking research in our new seminar series!Join us for our first Genomic Innovator seminar on September 29 at 3:00 p.m. ET, where Luca Pinello and Karen Mohlke will present their work: “Playing genomic battleship with CRISPR technologies to uncover non-coding functional elements and their phenotypic effects.” https://nih.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_379bc2lDROO2SakD1AeQEw6National Human Genome Research Institute3moMake our DNA origami and you will for sure be the one that goes to Paris this year. genome.gov/DNAorigami252Next