What is the main consequence of genetic drift in evolution?

Genetic drift refers to the random fluctuations in allele frequencies within a population, particularly in small populations. This randomness can lead to the loss of genetic diversity, as certain alleles may become more or less common purely by chance rather than through natural selection. Over many generations, genetic drift can cause significant changes in the genetic composition of a population, leading to variation among individuals in traits that may not have been influenced by environmental pressures.

This phenomenon can eventually contribute to evolutionary changes, as populations may become more distinct from each other through their unique allele frequencies shaped by random events. This is particularly important because it highlights the role of chance in evolution, contrasting with natural selection, which is a non-random process. Therefore, the main consequence of genetic drift is the random changes in allele frequency that can lead to variation within and among populations.

In contrast, the other options imply predictability or uniformity that do not align with the inherent randomness of genetic drift.