Population Genetics

Population genetics is the study of genetic variation within and among populations, serving as a crucial link between Mendelian genetics and evolutionary theory. It examines the distribution and changes in allele and genotype frequencies over time, driven by the four main evolutionary forces: natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow. By applying mathematical models and statistical methods to a population's gene pool, this field provides a quantitative framework for understanding how genetic compositions change, leading to adaptation and the formation of new species.