The effect of finite population size on models of linked overdominant loci

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Models of two linked overdominant loci in moderately large, but finite, populations are examined by looking at the variance-covariance matrix of the two gene frequencies and the linkage disequilibrium around stable deterministic equilibrium points. In particular, the effect of genetic drift is examined in cases where, in infinite populations, two stable equilibria with non-zero linkage disequilibrium, D, are maintained. Theoretical formulae are produced and checked by computer simulation. In general, the results show that unless the population size is very large indeed, genetic drift causes the values of D to vary considerably about the equilibrium values and that for many models, where stable equilibria exist at non-zero D values, a wide range of values of D have a high probability. Thus it is very difficult to draw conclusions about the selection regime by measuring Linkage disequilibrium in a finite population.