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The Fixation Probability of a Beneficial Allele in a Population Dividing by Binary Fission

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Abstract

We derive formulae for the fixation probability, P, of a rare benefical allele segregating in a population of fixed size which reproduces by binary fission, in terms of the selection coefficient for the beneficial allele, s. We find that an earlier result P ≃ 4s does not depend on the assumption of binary fission, but depends on an assumption about the ordering of events in the life cycle. We find that P ≃ 2s for mutations occurring during chromosome replication and P ≃ 2.8s for mutations occurring at random times between replication events.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4 (Phone

    Toby Johnson

  2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA

    Philip J. Gerrish

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  1. Toby Johnson
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  2. Philip J. Gerrish
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Johnson, T., Gerrish, P.J. The Fixation Probability of a Beneficial Allele in a Population Dividing by Binary Fission. Genetica 115, 283–287 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020687416478

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