Population Genetics 2

(To Dr. Robert Wyatt: Thanks for the inspiration!)

 

Inbreeding = breeding between relatives
Self-fertilization is the most extreme form of inbreeding.

 

The coefficient of inbreeding = F = prob. two genes at same locus are identical by common descent = loss of heterozygosity.

 

F = Ho-H/Ho
where Ho = 2pq and H = real frequency of heterozygotes

 

Genotypic Frequencies with Inbreeding

Genotype

Inbreeding coefficient F

F=0 random mating

F=1

AA

P2(1-F)+pF

p2

p

Aa

2pq(1-F)

2pq

0

aa

q2(1-F)+qF

q2

q

 

Consequences of inbreeding:
a. inbreeding depression.

Outbreeding depression caused by loss of well-adapted alleles is also a risk. It may lead to a decrease in local adaptation. A decision was made to augment the Tatra Mountain, Czechoslovakia population of Ibex (Capra ibex) with imported animals from Turkey. The hybrid young were born in February, the coldest month of the year. The entire population went extinct as a result of this outbreeding (Greig 1979). However, populations tend to recover fitness lost from outbreeding depression more rapidly than from inbreeding depression (Templeton 1983).

 

b. genetic drift: is a change in the gene pool resulting from random events.

Genetic drift is unlikely in a large population. However, in a small population alleles can be lost and the population can become homozygous for certain traits. Drift is random unlike selection; therefore, it does not tend to lead toward adaptation to the environment.

Founder Effect - is genetic drift that occurs when only a few individuals

representing a small fraction of the global gene pool invade a new area.

Examples include the California Cypress and

Bottlenecks - periods of near extinction due to disaster

Cheetahs

Northern Elephant Seals-

The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) was hunted for their blubber, which was rendered for oil. By 1910, only 100 northern elephant seals remained on Guadalupe Island, Baja, Mexico. Their population now exceeds 150,000. Northern elephant seals exhibit a polygynous breeding strategy, in which males establish a dominance hierarchy. Alpha males typically reside over harem of 50 females.

 

 

Can we calculate reduction of heterozygosity?

FST=HT-HS/HT

Measures solely inbreeding due to population subdivision

FST =fixation index = reduction of hets. Due to drift

where HS=heterozygosity of a random mating sub pop.

And HT=heterozygosity of random mating total pop.

 

Fixation Index in subpopulations in generation t
Ft=1-(1-1/2N)

= 0 for no homozygosity
=1 for complete homozygosity

 

Effective Population Size with Unequal Sex Ratios

Ne = 4NmNf/Nm+Nf

Fixation over Time

1-FST = (1-1/2Ne)t

where 1/Ne = (1/t) (1/N1 +1/N2+…1/Nt)

 

Migrants come to the Rescue

F = 1/ 4Nm+1 = change in homozygosity in subpopulations

 

The Big Picture

The Tempo and Mode of Evolution S.J. Gould
Natural Selection and
The Red Queen Van Valen 1973

Adaptive topography (Sewall Wright) -Fitness does not always change linearly with changes in allele frequency. Changes in phenotype may lead to local optima. If evolution moves in small steps then species can be trapped on lower peaks. Alteration of the environment alters the adaptive topography.

"Beware the Panglossian Paradigm" S. J. Gould

Two Sites for you to play at:

EvolveIt

Evolving Floys