1)Explain Motoo Kimuraâs contribution to our understanding of population evolution. What is âneutral evolutionâ? How do you know that a population is in mutation-drift equilibrium at a locus? Why do we care about evolution in genetic regions that donât code for protein product?
2)Use language to explain what the Wright-Fisher model (the equation 1/2Ne ) is âsayingâ. Be able to use the equation to explicitly demonstrate how genetic drift may occur under different circumstances.
3)Use language to explain what the Moran model (the equation Var (pt+1) = 2p1q1/2N) is âsayingâ. Be able to use the equation to explicitly demonstrate how genetic drift may occur under different circumstances.
4)What is a âselectively neutral locusâ? When mutations occur in the genome, do regions which are selectively neutral accumulate mutations which persist in the population at the same rate, when compared to loci under selection? Why or why not?
5)Why donât all organisms exhibit identical neutral mutation rates? Why doesnât every region of the genome exhibit identical neutral mutation rates? What is a mutational âhotspotâ, and what type of DNA sequence might be found there?