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Frequency-dependent Selection

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

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).

Genetic Drift

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.

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Diploid organisms have two alleles of each gene, one from each parent, in their somatic cells. Therefore, each individual contributes two alleles to the gene pool of the population. The gene pool of a population is the sum of every allele of all genes within that population and has some degree of variation. Genetic variation is typically expressed as a relative frequency, which is the percentage of the total population that has a given allele, genotype or phenotype.

Mutations in Microorganisms

Mutations in Microorganisms

Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

Evolution of reduced mutation under frequency-dependent selection.

Uri Liberman¹, Hilla Behar², Marcus W Feldman²

¹School of Mathematical Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel.

Theoretical Population Biology

|August 30, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The reduction principle for mutation evolution, typically seen in frequency-independent selection, also applies to frequency-dependent selection without cyclic dynamics. This finding extends our understanding of mutation dynamics in various biological systems.

Keywords:

Diploid model Frequency dependence Multiple modifier alleles Reduction principle

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Last Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

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Published on: November 28, 2019

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Population genetics

Background:

Frequency-dependent selection models often involve host-parasite interactions.
These interactions typically lead to cyclic population dynamics where mutation may increase.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the applicability of the reduction principle for mutation evolution under frequency-dependent selection.
To determine if the reduction principle holds in non-cyclic frequency-dependent selection scenarios.

Main Methods:

Theoretical modeling of mutation evolution.
Analysis of selection dynamics in haploid and diploid systems.

Main Results:

The reduction principle for mutation evolution was shown to hold under frequency-dependent selection.
This principle applies even when the selection dynamics are not cyclic.

Conclusions:

The reduction principle is more broadly applicable than previously thought.
Mutation evolution can be understood through the reduction principle even in complex frequency-dependent scenarios without cyclic dynamics.