Coalescence (genetics)

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For other uses, see Coalescence (disambiguation).

Coalescence describes the idea that any sample of genetic sequences from any number of living things (that is, bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes) can be traced back to a common ancestor in the past. Due to random elimination of ancient genetic lineages, with constant population size of the taxons considered, the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) remains at a constant time distance from the present.

Coalescence, however, is impeded by balancing selection.

External links

[EvoMath 3: Genetic Drift and Coalescence, Briefly] - overview, with probability equations for genetic drift, and simulation graphs

[ edit] Topics in population genetics
Key concepts: Hardy-Weinberg law \| linkage disequilibrium \| Fisher's fundamental theorem \| neutral theory
Selection: natural \| sexual \| artificial \| ecological
Genetic drift: small population size \| population bottleneck \| founder effect \| coalescence
Founders: R.A. Fisher \| J.B.S. Haldane \| Sewall Wright
Related topics: evolution \| microevolution \| evolutionary game theory \| fitness landscape \| genetic genealogy
List of evolutionary biology topics

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