In: Biology
(5) (15 pts) FIS and FST (a) A SNP on human chromosome 2 (rs4988235) has the following allele frequencies in 4 human populations:
0.590 in Finland
0.080 in Italy
0.000 in Yoruba
0.000 in Japan Given these data, compute FST for this SNP. (b) Another SNP on human chromosome 6 (rs4707151) has the following allele frequencies in 4 human populations:
0.323 in Finland
0.384 in Italy
0.229 in Yoruba
0.087 in Japan Given these data, compute FST for this SNP. (c) Based on the values of FST computed above, which SNP do you think is under natural selection in Northern Europe? Why?
Fst quantifies the variable proportion attributable to inter-population differentiation. Fst measures population subdivision, which is interpreted as the combined effect of reduced gene flow and gene drift.
For SNP chromosome 2: Fst = 0.781
For SNP chromosome 6: Fst = 0426
Fst varies between 0 (the populations cross freely) and 1 (that all genetic variation is explained by population structure, and that the populations do not share any genetic diversity.) So, as Fst is lower in SNP of chromosome 6, we can conclude that this is the alele more exposed to natural selection.