Genetic divergence between transposable elements.

Abstract

SummaryThe probabilities of genetic identity between different members of the same family of transposable elements in a randomly mating host population are determined, under the assumption of statistical equilibrium between neutral mutations, random genetic drift, transposition and unbiased gene conversion. The method allows for variation in numbers of copies of the element between individuals within the host population, and for dependence of the probability of identity between a pair of elements on the frequencies of elements at the sites from which they were drawn. It is shown that, for the range of parameters under which the approximations used are valid, the effects of gene conversion on identity probabilities are relatively small, as are the effects of copy number variation and variation between sites in element frequencies.