Population Genetics
Population genetics is a subfield of genetics that studies the distribution and changes in genetic variation within and between populations over time. It combines principles from genetics, evolutionary biology, and statistics to analyze how factors like mutation, selection, genetic drift, and gene flow shape allele frequencies. This field is fundamental for understanding evolution, biodiversity, and the genetic basis of traits in natural and human populations.
Developers should learn population genetics when working in bioinformatics, computational biology, or genomics, as it provides the theoretical foundation for analyzing genetic data from large populations. It is essential for applications like genome-wide association studies (GWAS), evolutionary analysis, conservation genetics, and understanding disease susceptibility in human populations. Knowledge of population genetics enables developers to design algorithms, interpret genetic datasets, and build tools for genetic research and healthcare.