Steady state of homozygosity and [formula omitted] for the island model

Abstract

We examine homozygosity and G st for a subdivided population governed by the finite island model. Assuming an infinite allele model and strong mutation we show that the steady state distributions of G st and homozygosity have asymptotic expansions in the mutation rate. We use this observation to derive asymptotic expansions for various moments of homozygosity and to derive rigorous formulas for the mean and variance of G st . We show that G st ≈ 1 / ( 1 + 2 Nm ) , similarly to the well known formula of Wright for the infinite island model, and that the variance of G st goes to zero as mutation increases.