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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.

Gene Flow

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.

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).

What is Population Genetics?

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.

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.

Genetics of Speciation

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Neutral Genetic Patterns for Expanding Populations with Nonoverlapping Generations.

Nathan G Marculis¹, Roger Lui², Mark A Lewis^3,4

¹Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Centre for Mathematical Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G1, Canada. marculis@ualberta.ca.

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology

|March 15, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Range expansion dynamics reveal genetic consequences. Pulled fronts mimic the founder effect, while Allee effects preserve genetic diversity during population spread.

Keywords:

Allee effect Founder effect Integrodifference equations Neutral genetic diversity Range expansion Traveling wave

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Population Genetics
Mathematical Biology

Background:

Understanding population range expansion is crucial for predicting genetic consequences.
Integrodifference equations model populations with nonoverlapping generations and spatial structure.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the internal genetic dynamics during population range expansion.
To classify traveling wave solutions and their impact on genetic diversity.

Main Methods:

Decomposing solutions into neutral genetic components to analyze internal dynamics.
Analyzing spatiotemporal evolution of these components under various growth functions and dispersal kernels.
Classifying traveling wave solutions as pushed or pulled fronts.

Main Results:

Pulled fronts correspond to the founder effect in population genetics.
Overcompensation in growth dynamics does not alter genetic diversity during expansion.
Allee effects result in pushed fronts, preserving genetic variation.

Conclusions:

The type of traveling wave front (pushed vs. pulled) significantly influences genetic diversity during range expansion.
A simple formula can predict genetic contribution in pushed front scenarios based on initial conditions and spread speed.