Genetics. Published Articles Ahead of Print: September 1, 2006, Copyright © 2006
doi:10.1534/genetics.106.060681


A more recent version of this article appeared on November 1, 2006.

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Perfect Simulation from Non-neutral Population Genetic Models: Variable Population Size and Population sub-division

Paul Fearnhead 1*

1 Lancaster University

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: p.fearnhead{at}lancaster.ac.uk.

Submitted on May 12, 2006
Revised on July 26, 2006
Accepted on 1 August 2006


Abstract

We show how the idea of monotone coupling from the past can produce simple algorithms for simulating samples at a non-neutral locus under a range of demographic models. We specifically consider a biallelic locus, and either a general variable population size mode, or a general migration model for population subdivision. We investigate the effect of demography on the efficacy of selection, and the effect of selection on genetic divergence between populations.

Key Words: Ancestral Selection Graph, Coupling from the Past, Frequency Spectrum, Migration model, Stepping-stone model