What is the source of new alleles in a population?

The source of new alleles in a population is mutation. Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome and can occur spontaneously or be induced by environmental factors. These changes can introduce new genetic variations that were not previously present in the gene pool, leading to the emergence of new alleles.

When a mutation occurs, it may affect an organism's phenotype, and if it is beneficial, it may enhance the organism's survival and reproduction. Over time, these new alleles can spread within a population through reproduction, influencing the population's genetic diversity.

While migration, gene flow, and natural selection can affect the distribution of alleles and the genetic makeup of a population, they do not inherently create new alleles. Migration refers to the movement of individuals between populations, gene flow involves the transfer of alleles between populations through migration, and natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more common in a population based on their advantages for survival and reproduction. However, without mutation, the potential for generating new alleles does not exist, making mutation the fundamental source of genetic diversity within a population.