Sexual selection and the accumulation of deleterious mutations

突变是所有遗传变异的最终来源。因此，了解突变的性质、它的频率、效应的分布以及从种群中移除突变负载的选择的力量是遗传学的核心问题。在濒危物种和人类种群中，突变负荷的积累往往不受选择的影响，这可能会造成严重的问题。我们将确定性选择在防止有害突变在人群中积累方面的有效性。这个项目将提供数量遗传学的研究培训机会，这是生物学中的一个使能学科。

Mutation is the ultimate source of all genetic variation. Understanding the nature of mutation, its frequency, the distribution of effects, and the forces of selection that remove mutational load from populations is therefore a central concern of genetics. The accumulation of mutational load in endangered species and in human populations, where the forces of selection tend not to operate, has the potential to create serious problems. We will determine the efficacy of sexual selection in preventing deleterious mutations from accumulating in populations. This project will provide research training opportunities in quantitative genetics, an enabling discipline in Biology.