Mathematical Biology Seminar
William Provine, Cornell University
Wednesday April 18, 2007
2:55pm LCB 219
Random Genetic Drift: A Critique in
Historical Perspective
Abstract:
Random genetic drift has become a primary feature of modern
evolutionary
biology. Textbooks of evolution all include a section on random
genetic
drift. This is especially true of molecular evolution, where everyone
knows much selectively neutral DNA changes by random genetic drift. I
will argue that both R. A. Fisher and Sewall Wright misconceived
random
genetic drift from the beginning, and that the understanding of random
genetic drift in molecular biology has subsequently suffered. After
showing the particular problems with these approaches, particular
regarding recombination, I argue that understanding neutral DNA has
transformed molecular evolutionary biology from a dull science to a
very
exciting field of study.
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Mathematical Biology Program
Department of Mathematics
University of Utah
155 South 1400 East Room 233
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
rasmusse@math.utah.edu
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