Polyallelic random drift in relation to evolution.

Abstract

The number of alleles maintained In a population of given size by a given mutation rate, and the turnover from an indefinitely great possible number, are discussed in the cases of neutral alleles, all with the same mutation rate; equally deleterious alleles, semidominant or recessive, all with the same mutation rate; and heterotic alleles for which all homozygotes are at the same selective disadvantage with respect to all heterozygotes and mutation rates are all the same. The evolutionary implications of the polyallelic random drift that occurs in these cases is discussed.