Stochastic models of evolution in genetics, ecology and linguistics

Abstract

We give an overview of stochastic models of evolution that have found applications ingenetics, ecology and linguistics for an audience of non-specialists, especially statisticalphysicists. In particular, we focus mostly on neutral models in which no intrinsic advantageis ascribed to a particular type of the variable unit, for example a gene, appearing inthe theory. In many cases these models are exactly solvable and furthermore gosome way to describing observed features of genetic, ecological and linguisticsystems.