How are the Amish an example of the founder effect?

The Amish community exemplifies the founder effect through their relatively small population that originated from a limited number of founders in the 18th century. This genetic bottleneck has resulted in a higher prevalence of certain genetic traits and disorders within the community, such as Ellis-van Creveld syndrome. As the Amish population expanded, these traits became more common due to the isolated breeding practices and limited genetic diversity. Thus, the founder effect illustrates how a small initial group can significantly influence the genetic characteristics of a population over time.