Sequence diversity under the multispecies coalescent with Yule process and constant population size

Area of Science:

• * Evolutionary biology
• * Population genetics
• * Phylogenetic modeling

Background:

• * Sequence diversity studies traditionally use single population coalescent models.
• * The Kingman coalescent is a foundational model for theoretical population genetics.
• * Extending these models to multiple species is crucial for understanding macroevolutionary patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To derive exact formulas for sequence dissimilarity under the multispecies coalescent.
• * To analyze genetic diversity in a multi-population framework.
• * To investigate the impact of model parameter variations on sequence divergence.

Main Methods:

• * Application of the multispecies coalescent model.
• * Derivation of analytical formulas for sequence dissimilarity.
• * Parameterization using species tree birth rate (Yule process), effective population size, and mutation rate.

Main Results:

• * Exact formulas for pairwise sequence dissimilarity were derived for a basic multispecies coalescent model.
• * The study quantifies sequence divergence based on species tree topology and population genetics parameters.
• * Analysis includes the influence of the Yule process, population size, and mutation rate.

Conclusions:

• * The multispecies coalescent provides a robust framework for studying sequence diversity across related species.
• * The derived formulas offer precise tools for phylogenetic and population genetic analyses.
• * Relaxing model assumptions can reveal further insights into complex evolutionary histories.