Simulation results with stepwise mutation model and their interpretations

Abstract

Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the predictions based on the two presently used theoretical models for studying genetic variations in natural populations, the infinite allele model and the stepwise mutation model. Distribution of heterozygosity is noticed to be similar under these models until the product of population size and mutation rate is large. It is seen that electromorphs with high population frequency usually contain older allels (at the codon level) than an electromorph of low population frequency. The interpretations of these results in explaining the allelic variations at electrophoretic level is also discussed.