Molecular Evolution Activities
 

This is a comprehensive bibliography (under construction) of primary and secondary sources on the neutral theory of molecular evolution. It currently covers the period 1973-2001.

Author :

Spencer, H. G.;Marks, R. W.

Year :

1992

Title :

The maintenance of single-locus polymorphism. IV. Models with mutation from existing alleles

Journal :

Genetics

Volume :

130

Issue :

1

Pages :

211-21

Short Title :

The maintenance of single-locus polymorphism. IV. Models with mutation from existing alleles

Custom 3 :

92120519

Abstract :

The ability of viability selection to maintain allelic polymorphism is investigated using a constructionist approach. In extensions to the models we have previously proposed, a population is bombarded with a series of mutations whose fitnesses in conjunction with other alleles are functions of the corresponding fitnesses with a particular allele, the parent allele, already in the population. Allele frequencies are iterated simultaneously, thus allowing alleles to be driven to extinction by selection. Such models allow very high levels of polymorphism to evolve: up to 38 alleles in one case. Alleles that are lethal as homozygotes can evolve to surprisingly high frequencies. The joint evolution of allele frequencies and viabilities highlights the necessity to consider more than the current morphology of a population. Comparisons are made with the neutral theory of evolution and it is suggested that failure to reject neutrality using the Ewens-Watterson test cannot be regarded as evidence for the neutral theory.
 -- contributed by John Beatty, March 29, 2002