Open AccessModels, methods and tools for ancestry inference and admixture analysis
Author(s) -
Yuan Kai,
Zhou Ying,
Ni Xumin,
Wang Yuchen,
Liu Chang,
Xu Shuhua
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
quantitative biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.707
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 2095-4697
pISSN - 2095-4689
DOI - 10.1007/s40484-017-0117-2
Subject(s) - inference , genetic admixture , evolutionary biology , selection (genetic algorithm) , population , biology , natural selection , genetic genealogy , population genetics , ancestry informative marker , genetic drift , genetic variation , computer science , machine learning , artificial intelligence , genetics , genotype , allele frequency , gene , demography , sociology
Background Genetic admixture refers to the process or consequence of interbreeding between two or more previously isolated populations within a species. Compared to many other evolutionary driving forces such as mutations, genetic drift, and natural selection, genetic admixture is a quick mechanism for shaping population genomic diversity. In particular, admixture results in “recombination” of genetic variants that have been fixed in different populations, which has many evolutionary and medical implications. Results However, it is challenging to accurately reconstruct population admixture history and to understand of population admixture dynamics. In this review, we provide an overview of models, methods, and tools for ancestry inference and admixture analysis. Conclusions Many methods and tools used for admixture analysis were originally developed to analyze human data, but these methods can also be directly applied and/or slightly modified to study non‐human species as well.