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For Students · Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift for a protein fold

Built for students learning it for a class or exam. See the concept move instead of memorizing formulas — and check your homework intuition. Simulate a protein fold 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 students?: Yes — this version of "Genetic Drift for a protein fold" is framed for students learning it for a class or exam. See the concept move instead of memorizing formulas — and check your homework intuition.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.