Population Genetics
Which internal premises the software relies upon ?
Several factors may bend allelic frequencies.
Random gametes production and meeting will cause shifting frequencies from a generation to another.
On the other hand, environment acts by way of the natural selection that makes one or other phenotype more likely to be transmitted.
The aim of this simulation is to get rid of the environment bias, or to have it acting in a very limited and controlled way.
The main point is that, when long periods of time are involved (one can let an experiment run over one thousand generations) very large frequency changes can be observed.
Getting such results, one could easily think the allele thriving in the population is the fittest. This obviously can't be since, on this simulation, selection's pressure is either absent or willingly added.
All aspects of purely random population's evolution (genetic drifting, founder effect) can be simulated.
This can help to appreciate their role, very easily played down.
Premises and how the software handle them.
The software follows rules that, as far as possible, are those of a normal sexual reproduction.
Some restrictions limit the range of possible simulations.
Only one gene with 2 to 4 alleles.
Selection pressure can only be set to a negative or null value. i.e. alleles carry no adaptive value at all or, if any, a morbid one.
The pressure acts only on homozygous for the chosen allele (the morbid allele is considered to be recessive).
Codominance or diversifying selection are not simulated.
User defined parameters.
Initial allelic frequencies and lethality, fertility rate, initial and maximum population's size.