Processes Causing Deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

4. Nonrandon Mating




Population Genetics -- Evolution homepage -- BIO 311D homepage

Inbreeding: mating between relatives.


inbreeding depression: decrease of vigor or reproductive success due to inbreeding.







Fact: During selfing, the most extreme form of inbreeding, heterozygosity is halved between generations.

Fact: Positive assortative mating increases homozygosity only at the locus for which the choice occurs.

Fact: Asexual reproduction results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.




Hybrids are often superior in performance to more homozygous strains, as demonstrated in corn.




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