Tim Tyler  wrote:

> I've written an essay about genetic drift and population size.
> 
> This essay is intended to dispell some of the myths (recently
> expressed on other threads in this forum) suggesting that the
> effects of genetic drift are independent of the population size.
> 
> Supposedly this is common knowledge - but in fact it's nonsense.
> 
> The mix-up seems to arise from getting genetic drift muddled
> up with neutral evolution :-(
> 
> ``Genetic drift and population size''
> 
>  - http://alife.co.uk/essays/genetic_drift_and_population_size/
> 
> This page shows the results of experimental modelling of the 
> probability of fixation of near neutral alleles by genetic
> drift in populations of various sizes.
> 
> It illustrates pretty clearly that the rate of fixation of
> alleles due to genetic drift is usually a function of the
> population size.
> 
> The fixation rate of slightly-deleterious alleles by genetic drift is
> *dramatically* reduced in large populations - since there the effects
> of genetic drift on near-neutral alleles are more powerfully and 
> effectively opposed by selective forces.
> 
> Enjoy,

The Panda's Thumb blog http://www.pandasthumb.org> has a recent blog by
Reed Cartright on coalescence and drift, with Real Math :-) too.
-- 
John S Wilkins PhD - www.wilkins.id.au
  a little emptier, a little spent
  as always by that quiver in the self,
  subjugated, yes, and obedient.  -- Seamus Heaney
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