In population genetics, genetic load or genetic burden is a measure of the cost of lost alleles due to selection (selectional load) or mutation (mutational load). It is a value in the range 0 < {L} < 1, where 0 represents no load. The concept was first formulated in 1937 by JBS Haldane, independently formulated, named and applied to humans in 1950 by H. J. Muller^[1], and elaborated further by Haldane in 1957.^[2]

Definition

Genetic load is the reduction in selective value for a population compared to what the population would have if all individuals had the most favored genotype.^[3] It is normally stated in terms of fitness as the reduction in the mean fitness for a population compared to the maximum fitness.

Mathematics

Consider a single gene locus with the alleles \mathbf{A} _1 \dots \mathbf{A} _n, which have the fitnesses w_1 \dots w_n and the allele frequencies p_1 \dots p_n respectively. Ignoring frequency-dependent selection, then genetic load (L) may be calculated as:

L = {{w_\max - \bar w}\over w_\max}~~~~~~~~~~(1)

where w_\max is the maximum value of the fitnesses w_1 \dots w_n and \bar w is mean fitness which is calculated as the mean of all the fitnesses weighted by their corresponding allele frequency:

\bar w = {\sum_{i=1}^n {p_i w_i}} ~~~~~~~~~~(2)

where the i^\mathrm{th} allele is \mathbf{A}_i and has the fitness and frequency w_i and p_i respectively.

When the w_\max = 1, then (1) simplifies to

L = 1 - \bar w. ~~~~~~~~~~(3)

Causes of genetic load

Load may be caused by selection and mutation.

Mutational load

Mutation load is caused when a mutation at a locus produces a new allele of either lesser or greater fitness. This lowers the average fitness of the population; a deleterious mutation has a lower relative fitness, lowering average load, while an advantageous mutation effectively lowers the relative fitness of the existing allele, and thus also lowers average fitness.

Selectional load

Selection occurs when the fitnesses of particular alleles are inequal, hence selection always exerts a load.

With directional selection, the allele frequencies will tend towards an equilibrium position with the fittest allele reaching a frequency in mutation-selection balance. As mutations are rare, this is effectively fixation. Consider two alleles \mathbf{A}_1 and \mathbf{A}_2. If w_1 > w_2, then at equilibrium, p_1 \approx 1 and p_2 \approx 0, hence \bar{w} \approx w_\max, and L \approx 0.

If the mean fitness is 0, the load is equal to 1, but the population goes extinct.

Segregational load

In contrast to directional selection, in which one homozygote has a higher fitness than both the heterozygote and other homozygote, heterozygote advantage (also called overdominance) always exerts a load against the less fit homozygotes at equilibrium.

Creationist criticism

Some creationists (such as Henry M. Morris) have suggested that mutational load would increase over time and thus make populations inviable. However, they ignore the effect of selectional load acting to weed out (decrease frequency of) deleterious mutations.

References

1. ↑
2. ↑
3. ↑

External links

• ''The Cost of Natural Selection Revisited'', Leonard Nunney, Ann. Zool. Fennici 40:185-194 (pdf file)
• Genetic load, from ''Evolution A-Z'' by Mark Ridley
• Creationist Claim CB120: Genetic load from ''An Index to Creationist Claims'' by Mark Isaak

ru:???????????? ???? fi:Geneettinen taakka