Simulation studies have shown (Lynch et al. Genetics 159:1789) that newly-arisen gene duplicates can either behave as neutral alleles (for small populations) or can experience a form of selection that doubles their chances of remaining as a permanent feature in the genome (in large populations). Informal arguments can be devised to justify both these behaviours. In this talk I will present a diffusion model for the evolution of the duplicate gene system, from which both of the limiting behaviours observed in simulations can be rigorously demonstrated, and which predicts where the transition between them occurs.
 

Convenor:Aidan Sudbury