Coalescence under discrete & continuous models
The graphs show the distribution of the expected
number of generations until two lineages within a population
find an MRCA in the
continuous
approximation model [left] and the
discrete Wright-Fischer Model [right]. Here, with 2N=1,000
individuals, the two distributions are quite similar, which
shows that the simpler Wright-Fischer model is a very good
approximation to the more realistic continuous model.
Figure © 2013 by Sinauer; Text material © 2017 by Steven M. Carr