Pairwise comparisons of mitochondrial DNA sequences in stable and exponentially growing populations.

摘要: We consider the distribution of pairwise sequence differences mitochondrial DNA or other nonrecombining portions genome in a population that has been constant size and growing exponentially for long time. show that, size, sample will typically deviate substantially from geometric expected, because history coalescent events single genes imposes substantial correlation on differences. Consequently, goodness-of-fit test observed to distribution, which assumes each comparison is independent, not valid hypothesis were sampled panmictic size. In an product current growth rate larger than one, our analytical simulation results most occur relatively early restricted range times. Hence, "gene tree" be nearly "star phylogeny" Poisson distribution. case, it possible estimate r, rate, if mutation mu, N0, are assumed known. The r solution ri/mu = ln(N0r) - gamma, where i average difference gamma approximately 0.577 Euler's constant.