GENE CONVERSION: A HITHERTO OVERLOOKED PARAMETER IN POPULATION GENETICS

Abstract
Gene conversion causes deviations from the 2:2 segregation of allele pairs in meiosis. Thus, gene conversion is a potential cause for changes of allele frequencies in populations. Equations are derived for the effects of conversion in a large random-mating population. The influence of gene conversion on allele frequencies is compared with that of spontaneous mutation and meiotic drive.