populaatiogeeniikkaa
Population genetics is the branch of genetics that studies the distribution and change of allele frequencies in populations over time. It applies probability theory to explain how natural selection, mutation, genetic drift, migration and recombination shape genetic variation. The field emerged from the work of 19th‑century pioneers such as Gregor Mendel and Ronald Fisher, who formalised the mathematical relationships between genotype frequencies and evolutionary forces. Classical equations such as Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and Wright’s F‑statistics remain foundational tools.
Key concepts include genetic drift, the random sampling effect that is most pronounced in small populations;
Applications of population genetics span conservation biology, where estimates of effective population size guide management of