Skip to main content
Log in

On estimating the total number of genes of a given kind in the genome and similar problems

  • Published:
Journal of Mathematical Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

From a collection of objects identified by a common characteristic such as mutations of a given phenotype or DNA sequences with a given property, it is possible to estimate the total number of classes these objects may belong to from the number of such classes represented in the sample. An estimation procedure is presented here complementing earlier work by Lewontin and Prout (1956). The precision and bias of the astimate can also be calculated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benzer, S.: On the topography of the genetic fine structure. Proc. National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 47, 403–415 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobzhansky, T., Wright, S.: Genetics of natural populations. V. Relations between mutation rate and accumulation of lethals in populations of D. pseudoobscura. Genetics 26, 23–51 (1941)

    Google Scholar 

  • Engels, W. R.: Loss of selectively neutral alleles in small populations and regular mating systems. Theoretical Population Biology 17, 345–364 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gans, M., Audit, C., Masson, M.: Isolation and characterization of sex-linked female-sterile mutants in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 81, 683–704 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Judd, B. H., Young, M. Y.: An examination of the one cistron one chromomere concept. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 38, 573–579 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Judd, B. H., Shen, M. W., Kaufman, T. C.: The anatomy and function of a segment of the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 71, 139–156 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewontin, R., Prout, T.: Estimation of the number of classes in a population. Biometrics 12, 211–223 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, C. P., Lim, J. K.: Complementation analysis of methyl methane sulfonate induced recessive lethals in the zeste-white region of the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 79, 601–611 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer, R. K., Hawthorne, D. C.: Genetic mapping in Saccharomyces. IV. Mapping of temperature sensitive genes and use of disomic strains in localizing genes. Genetics 74, 33–54 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston, F. W.: The commonness and rarity of species. Ecology 29, 254–283 (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodruff, R. C., Ashburner, M.: The genetics of a small autosomal region of Drosophila melanogaster containing the structural gene for alcohol dehydrogenase. II. Lethal mutations in the region. Genetics 92, 133–149 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, M.: Middle repetitive DNA: A fluid component of the Drosophila genome. Proc. National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 76, 6142–6146 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Engels, W.R. On estimating the total number of genes of a given kind in the genome and similar problems. J. Math. Biology 11, 45–50 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00275823

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00275823

Key words

Navigation