Gene frequency refers to the proportion of a particular allele within a population at a given locus. It can change over time due to various factors like mutation, migration, genetic drift, non-random mating, and selection. Genetic drift occurs when allele frequencies change due to chance rather than evolutionary influences, and can be seen through bottle neck effects when population sizes drastically decrease, or founder effects when new populations are established. Migration also impacts gene frequencies as individuals move between populations, carrying alleles with them. Mutation introduces new alleles, while selection influences which alleles increase or decrease in frequency based on their effects on fitness.