Selection-mutation balance: Introduction of a finite genome and sexual reproduction in a haploid population

Dr Anna Fukshansky

Tuesday 28 March 2006 (1 pm, 325 McCrea)

Abstract:

One major goal of population genetics is to describe and understand the evolution of a population over generations. Among other models, one approach is to describe the population as a large enough (infinite) set of individual genomes which consist of genes over the generations and in the steady state. The model presented in the talk describes an infinite haploid and at first asexual population. The special feature of this model is that the genomes are represented as finite sets of genes. This approach allows in particular the introduction of positive mutations. Furthermore, the model is extended to describe recombination and the comparison of the two cases with and without recombination in the equilibrium shows, that the introduction of sexual reproduction increases the mean fitness.