• ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    5 months ago

    Just because a gene has become popular in a population doesn’t necessarily mean it provides an evolutionary advantage. It can also be genetic hitchhiking, where a non-advantageous gene tags along with an advantageous one because they’re located close together. Or even just genetic drift, where a gene becomes popular due to random chance.

    There could be an advantage for this trait, but there doesn’t need to be.

    • Malgas@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      5 months ago

      Also these are domestic goats, so the advantage could literally be “humans thought it was neat”.