Extension Of The Haldane-Muller Principle Of Mutation Load With Application For Estimating A Possible Range Of Relative Evolution Rate

SUMMARYThe Haldane-Muller principle of mutation load is generalized so as to be applicable to both cases of strong and very weak selection with any time variation. It is proved that in an infinite asexual haploid population, theaverageMalthusian parameterm¯of a population, the evolution rate ν, and the total mutation rate μ satisfy the relation ∂m¯/∂/∂μ = ν/μ−1, so long as each Malthusian parameter is independent of μ. A similar result is also true in a diploid population under genie selection. It is discussed how the above relation gives a restriction on the possible range of values of relative evolution rate ν/μ.