Selective sweep

Selective sweep

Selective sweep (/sɪˈlɛktɪv swiːp/) is a genetic phenomenon that occurs when a new, beneficial mutation increases in frequency and becomes fixed in a population. This process leaves a unique signature in the genome, which can be detected by various statistical methods.

Etymology

The term "selective sweep" was first coined in the field of population genetics to describe the rapid change in allele frequencies due to natural selection. The word "selective" refers to the action of natural selection, while "sweep" refers to the sweeping away of alternative alleles in the population.

Mechanism

A selective sweep begins when a new mutation arises in a population that provides a fitness advantage. This mutation will increase in frequency due to positive selection, eventually becoming fixed in the population. During this process, linked genetic variation (i.e., haplotypes) can also increase in frequency, leading to a reduction in genetic diversity around the selected site. This is known as genetic hitchhiking.

Detection

Detecting selective sweeps can provide insights into the evolutionary history of a species and the genetic basis of adaptive traits. Several statistical methods have been developed to detect selective sweeps, including the Tajima's D test, the Fay and Wu's H test, and the composite likelihood ratio test.

Related Terms

• Genetic drift
• Founder effect
• Bottleneck effect
• Adaptive evolution
• Genetic hitchhiking

See Also

• Population genetics
• Evolutionary biology
• Molecular evolution

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Selective sweep
• Wikipedia's article - Selective sweep

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