Theory 64/Population/Population genetics
Diversity Is Mutation Against Drift
The claim
Neutral genetic diversity is set by the ratio of mutation rate to drift rate, which is proportional to population size, so small populations lose diversity predictably.
01Mechanism
Mutation introduces variation and drift removes it; their balance sets heterozygosity.
02Prediction
Diversity should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Diversity tracking population size alone would remove mutation.