Do I need to install anything?

No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.

For Engineers · Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift for a bioreactor

Built for engineers using it for real design work. Go from concept to a running model in the browser, then scale to the cloud when needed. Simulate a bioreactor live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Genetic Drift (Wright-Fisher)Live

chance changes allele frequencies

Controls

Presets

Population size N

Initial frequency p₀

Replicate populations

Even with no selection, allele frequencies wander purely by chance as each generation is randomly sampled from the last. In small populations this genetic drift is fast and alleles quickly fix or vanish; in large populations it is slow. Each colored line is an independent population starting from the same frequency.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Fixed (reached 1)0

Lost (reached 0)0

Population size50

Governing equation

Var (p) = \frac{p _{0} ( 1 - p _{0} )}{2 N} = \frac{0.5 ( 1 - 0.5 )}{2 \cdot 50} = 0.0025

Reading this result: Over many replicates the fraction that fix an allele converges on its starting frequency p₀=0.5 — drift is directionless, but the odds of fixation equal where you began.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for engineers?: Yes — this version of "Genetic Drift for a bioreactor" is framed for engineers using it for real design work. Go from concept to a running model in the browser, then scale to the cloud when needed.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.