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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 2, 2022

Coalescent theory for a completely random mating monoecious population.

Edward Pollak¹

¹Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. pllk@iastate.edu

Mathematical Biosciences

|October 3, 2006

Summary

In large populations, gene copies sampled at time 0 are likely from different ancestors as effective population size (Ne) increases. This finding enables a generalized coalescent theory for haploid populations.

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Area of Science:

Population Genetics
Evolutionary Biology
Theoretical Biology

Background:

Understanding gene ancestry is crucial for population genetics.
Coalescent theory models the genetic divergence of DNA sequences.
Previous models often assume simplified population structures.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the ancestral origins of gene copies in large diploid populations.
To establish conditions for generalizing coalescent theory to haploid populations.
To analyze the impact of effective population size on ancestral sampling.

Main Methods:

Mathematical modeling of gene sampling in large populations.
Analysis of exchangeable random variables for gamete production.
Backward time scaling based on effective population size (Ne).

Main Results:

Gene copies sampled at time 0 are almost certain to originate from distinct individuals as Ne approaches infinity.
A generalized coalescent theory for haploid populations is derived under specific conditions.
The derivation requires a finite second moment for gamete distribution and a condition on the third moment.

Conclusions:

The study provides a theoretical framework for understanding gene ancestry in large populations.
The findings extend coalescent theory, offering new tools for evolutionary analysis.
The results highlight the importance of effective population size in shaping genetic history.