Populationgenetics

Population genetics is the study of genetic variation within populations and how allele frequencies change over time. It seeks to understand how evolutionary forces shape genetic diversity among individuals and groups.

The framework centers on mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. The Hardy-Weinberg principle provides a baseline expectation for allele and genotype frequencies in an ideal population, while deviations reveal evolutionary processes.

Researchers analyze DNA sequence and genotype data to estimate allele frequencies, heterozygosity, and diversity, test for selection, and infer historical demography. Coalescent theory and the neutral theory provide key conceptual underpinnings.

Applications include human population genetics, medical genetics and pharmacogenomics, forensic genetics, and conservation biology. Studies illuminate human ancestry and migration, identify disease-associated variants, and guide strategies for protecting endangered species.

Challenges include simplifying model assumptions, complex demographic histories, sampling bias, and data gaps. Ethical considerations, including privacy, consent, and equitable representation, are central to responsible population genetics research.