Unique Origin Research Discovering Human Uniqueness
Articles

Effective Population Size

Share
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Flipboard
Print
Email

Haplo has a large number of parameters. Two of those describe how the population reproduces. There is one parameter, alpha, a which controls variablility of fertility, and another, beta, which controls rates of monogamy. One interesting concept in population genetics is that these two parameters can be fudged together with the real population size, into an effective population size. Here is an intuitive / visual example of why that works.

Ann Gauger

Senior Fellow, Center for Science and Culture
Dr. Ann Gauger is a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, and Senior Research Scientist at the Biologic Institute in Seattle, Washington. She received her Bachelor's degree from MIT and her Ph.D. from the University of Washington Department of Zoology. She held a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, where her work was on the molecular motor kinesin.