Genetic Load of an Evolutionary Change

Abstract

ACCORDING to Fisher's “Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection¹”, the rate of change of the mean fitness of a population equals the genetic variance in fitness. If w is the fitness and V_Gw the genetic variance in fitness, then by Fisher's theorem Falconer² showed that if fitness varies in a way that is partially determined by variations in a character, x, then where cov_G(x,w) is the genetic covariance of x and w. This equation Falconer calls the “Extension to Fisher's Fundamental Theorem”. It will be true only if the regression of fitness and the character is linear. That is, we must have a relationship where It then follows that the genetic load of any change Δx̄ in the mean of the character can be calculated. We have by definition of the genetic load³ where w_max is the fitness of the most fit genotype. Now we have and It then follows directly that If the change per generation in the mean of the character is known, then The genetic load is an important quantity to know because it measures the intensity of natural selection. If fitness is the probability of survival, then the genetic load is the proportion of the deaths which arise from variations in fitness. Thus it L is large, a population may be in dangerof extinction. For example, suppose a continuous series of fossils shows a change to a new form. During a period of change, we can find Δx̄ if we know the number of generations that has passed. x_max will be the value of the character when the new form has finally become stable. x̄ will be the moan at some point in time in the evolutionary process. Thus we can find L at that time. Usually, evolutionary changes occur as populations adapt to new environments. In a new environment x_max will have a new value. The shift of x̄ away from x_max produces the genetic load which may be high if V_Gx is small. The formula for L shows why a large genetic variance helps a population to adapt to an environmental change: if V_Gx is low the genetic load may be high and the population may become extinct before it can adapt itself. It would therefore be interesting to compare the genetic loads in fossil populations which died out and in those that increased in numbers.