Living Graph: Explore Genetic Drift

The model follows the values of p over time when no mechanisms of evolution other than drift are operating. In each generation a random change in allele frequency occurs. This is the new allele frequency at the start of reproduction in the next generation.

  1. Choose a value of N e and examine the change in allele frequency over time. The value of N e must be equal to or less than the value of N .
  2. Repeat this exercise several times and note any differences in the results.
  3. Hold N e constant and change the initial allele frequency.

Range of Time (T):

Population size #1

Value of Ne #1

Initial (p) #1

Population size #2

Value of Ne #2

Initial (p) #2

Update Graph Reset Page

To compare two populations over the same Time (T), please enter values above. Click the items in the legend to hide or display the corresponding plotted points. Explore the plotted points by hovering over them with your cursor; you can zoom in on a section of the graph by clicking and dragging. When zoomed-in, you may explore the timeline by dragging the scroll bar at the top of the graph. Reset the graph by clicking "Show all".

The graph plots allele frequency from 0.50 to 0.7, versus Time T from 0 to 10. Allele frequency population 1: 0, 0.50; 2, 0.535; 6, 0. 6503; 7, 0. 69; 9, 0.64; 10, 0.66. All values are estimated.