Which of the following statements describes the founder effect?

The founding effect is best described by the idea that a small population's gene pool may differ from the original population due to the limited genetic diversity that comes from the smaller group. When a few individuals from a larger population establish a new population, they may carry only a fraction of the genetic variation found in the original population. This means that traits present in the founding members may become more pronounced and may not represent the overall genetic diversity of the larger source population.

As the new population expands, the genetic characteristics of this group can diverge from those of the original population, potentially leading to differences in traits and even speciation over time. The founder effect highlights how isolated or small groups can evolve distinct genetic traits that are not representative of the broader population.

The other statements suggest misunderstandings about population dynamics and genetics, such as the assumption that larger populations always have greater genetic diversity or that speciation requires large populations, which are not necessarily true. Additionally, the idea that all individuals in a founding population are genetically identical oversimplifies genetic variation within even small populations.