Mathematical Properties of Population-Genetic Statistics : Quadratic Forms Most Beautiful

Noah A. Rosenberg

ISBN 10: 0691168334 / ISBN 13: 9780691168333

Published by Princeton University Press Mai 2025, 2025

About this Item

Neuware - 'A powerful new approach to interpreting population-genetic data in evolution and ecologyPopulation genetics uses statistical analysis to catalog genetic variation among populations and species. Summary statistics computed from allele frequencies-mathematical functions that measure features of genetic similarity and diversity-are key to this global effort. Yet despite their widespread use in evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation biology, their mathematical properties have largely been overlooked. This book shows how to use the mathematical bounds on summary statistics to make better interpretations of population-genetic data.Noah Rosenberg discusses how the behavior of these statistics depends not only on the biology of the populations they seek to describe but also on the mathematical properties of the functions used to compute them, properties that produce constraints on the values of the statistics and influence their interpretation. Focusing on the concept of homozygosity-a quadratic function of allele frequencies in a population-he demonstrates how to account for mathematical constraints when measuring genetic similarity and diversity. Rosenberg illustrates the results using examples from empirical data and shares strategies that readers can use to apply this mathematical perspective to different kinds of summary statistics, including those for measuring biodiversity in ecological communities.Drawing inspiration from Charles Darwin, who marveled at evolution's 'endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful,' this book presents a groundbreaking approach to the study of genetic variation. It is sure to stimulate new research in population biology and deeper thinking about the meaning and interpretation of essential measurements of the world's genomes'.

Seller Inventory # 9780691168333

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mathematical Properties of Population-Genetic Statistics : Quadratic Forms Most Beautiful
• Publisher: Princeton University Press Mai 2025
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0691168334
• ISBN 13: 9780691168333
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 255W x 176H x 12D millimeters 255 millimeters width by 176 millimeters height by 12 millimeters depth
• Weight: 372 grams

About this title

Synopsis

A powerful new approach to interpreting population-genetic data in evolution and ecology

Population genetics uses statistical analysis to catalog genetic variation among populations and species. Summary statistics computed from allele frequencies—mathematical functions that measure features of genetic similarity and diversity—are key to this global effort. Yet despite their widespread use in evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation biology, their mathematical properties have largely been overlooked. This book shows how to use the mathematical bounds on summary statistics to make better interpretations of population-genetic data.

Noah Rosenberg discusses how the behavior of these statistics depends not only on the biology of the populations they seek to describe but also on the mathematical properties of the functions used to compute them, properties that produce constraints on the values of the statistics and influence their interpretation. Focusing on the concept of homozygosity—a quadratic function of allele frequencies in a population—he demonstrates how to account for mathematical constraints when measuring genetic similarity and diversity. Rosenberg illustrates the results using examples from empirical data and shares strategies that readers can use to apply this mathematical perspective to different kinds of summary statistics, including those for measuring biodiversity in ecological communities.

Drawing inspiration from Charles Darwin, who marveled at evolution’s “endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful,” this book presents a groundbreaking approach to the study of genetic variation. It is sure to stimulate new research in population biology and deeper thinking about the meaning and interpretation of essential measurements of the world’s genomes.

About the Author

Noah A. Rosenberg is Professor of Biology at Stanford University, where he holds the Stanford Professorship in Population Genetics and Society.