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Related Concept Videos

What is Population Genetics?01:25

What is Population Genetics?

A population is composed of members of the same species that simultaneously live and interact in the same area. When individuals in a population breed, they pass down their genes to their offspring. Many of these genes are polymorphic, meaning that they occur in multiple variants. Such variations of a gene are referred to as alleles. The collective set of all the alleles within a population is known as the gene pool.While some alleles of a given gene might be observed commonly, other variants...
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).Mechanisms of Genetic VariationThe original sources of genetic variation are mutations,...
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.Life is not fair. A deer grazing contentedly in a field can have her meal cut tragically short by a bolt of lightning. If the doomed doe is one of only three in the population, 1/3 of the population’s gene pool is lost. Random events like this can...
Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants01:27

Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants

The human genome is over 99.9% identical between individuals, yet genetic differences exist at millions of bases. The human genome contains approximately 3 million variant positions per individual, many of which are heterozygous, contributing to genetic diversity and individual traits. Genetic variations include single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, and copy number variations (CNVs).SNPs, the most common variation, involve single-base changes in DNA. These can be...
Genetic Variation01:25

Genetic Variation

Genetic variation is the diversity in DNA sequences found among individuals of the same species. This diversity is crucial for a species' survival because it helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. Genetic variation begins with fertilization, where an egg and sperm cell merge. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, up to 46 in the fertilized egg. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, the basic units of heredity.
Genes exist in different versions called alleles, which...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A Noninvasive Hair Sampling Technique to Obtain High Quality DNA from Elusive Small Mammals
07:40

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Published on: March 13, 2011

Genetic variation and population structure in native Americans.

Sijia Wang1, Cecil M Lewis, Mattias Jakobsson

  • 1The Galton Laboratory, Department of Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

Plos Genetics
|November 28, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Genetic studies reveal Native American populations exhibit lower diversity and greater differentiation, reflecting southward dispersal from Beringia. Coastal migration routes appear favored over inland paths.

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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

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Area of Science:

  • Population Genetics
  • Human Migration Studies
  • Archaeogenetics

Background:

  • Understanding the peopling of the Americas is crucial for human evolutionary studies.
  • Previous research suggests complex migration patterns and population dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate genetic diversity and population structure across Native American populations.
  • To identify patterns of human dispersal and differentiation throughout the Americas.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 678 autosomal microsatellite markers in 422 individuals from 24 Native American populations.
  • Integration of data with 54 other global indigenous populations.

Main Results:

  • Native American populations show reduced genetic diversity and increased differentiation compared to other continental groups.
  • Genetic diversity decreases with distance from the Bering Strait, correlating with Siberian populations.
  • Western South America displays higher diversity and lower structure than eastern regions.
  • Mesoamerican and Andean populations show limited differentiation; coastal routes appear favored for migration.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support a southward human dispersal model from northwestern North America.
  • Genetic patterns partially align with linguistic classifications, suggesting localized agreements.
  • The study provides novel insights into the peopling of the Americas and population differentiation processes.