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Related Concept Videos

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...
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

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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,...
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Hardy-Weinberg Principle01:49

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

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Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

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The Rate of Change of a Character Correlated with Fitness.

The American naturalist·2018
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Haldane, Fisher and Wright.

Journal of genetics·2017
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INBREEDING AND VARIANCE EFFECTIVE POPULATION NUMBERS.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2017
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Upsetting the dogma: germline selection in human males.

PLoS genetics·2012
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On epistasis: why it is unimportant in polygenic directional selection.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi
06:44

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi

Published on: October 5, 2018

Wright and Fisher on inbreeding and random drift.

James F Crow1

  • 1Genetics Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. jfcrow@wisc.edu

Genetics
|March 25, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Sewall Wright and R. A. Fisher debated inbreeding and gene drift. Fisher viewed them as distinct, supported by different effective population numbers for each process.

Area of Science:

  • Population genetics
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Quantitative genetics

Background:

  • Sewall Wright and R. A. Fisher were pivotal figures in population genetics.
  • They had differing interpretations of key evolutionary mechanisms like inbreeding and random genetic drift.
  • Understanding these concepts is crucial for evolutionary and genetic studies.

Observation:

  • Wright's inbreeding coefficient aimed to encompass both inbreeding and random genetic drift.
  • Fisher argued that inbreeding and random genetic drift are fundamentally distinct evolutionary processes.
  • The effective population sizes relevant to inbreeding and random drift differ.

Findings:

  • The differing effective population numbers for inbreeding and random genetic drift support Fisher's view.

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Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi
06:44

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi

Published on: October 5, 2018

Boldness, Aggression, and Shoaling Assays for Zebrafish Behavioral Syndromes
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Boldness, Aggression, and Shoaling Assays for Zebrafish Behavioral Syndromes

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  • This distinction highlights the nuanced nature of genetic variation and evolution within populations.
  • Fisher's perspective offers a clearer separation of these two forces.

    • Implications:

    • Clarifying the distinction between inbreeding and random genetic drift refines evolutionary models.
    • Accurate differentiation aids in predicting genetic changes in populations.
    • This understanding is vital for conservation genetics and breeding programs.