Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 1: Evolutionary and Population Dynamics

BP 1.2: Invited Talk

Monday, March 26, 2007, 10:00–10:30, H43

Surfing genes: On the fate of neutral mutations in spreading populations — •Oskar Hallatschek and David Nelson — Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

Population expansions in space are common events in the demographic history of many species and have a strong impact on their genealogy. As compared to individuals in the wake, the pioneers in the wave front are usually much more successful in passing their genes on to future generations, not only because their reproduction is unhampered by limited resources but also because their offspring start out from a spatial position where they have good chances to keep up with the wave front (often by means of mere diffusion). Those pioneer genes have the chance to "surf" on the wave and the likelihood to do so will be the focus of the presentation. By means of simple experimental systems (E. Coli and Yeast), simulations and analytical considerations, we explore how the footprints of the successfully surfing genes may be used to infer past population expansions.