De Finetti diagram

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A de Finetti diagram is a ternary plot used in population genetics. It is named after the Italian statistician Bruno de Finetti (1906 — 1985) and is used to graph the genotype frequencies of populations, where there are two alleles and the population is diploid. It is based on an equilateral triangle, and the theorem that from any point within the triangle, the sum of the length of the three lines from that point that are perpendicular to the sides of the triangle is equal. This length is set to be 1.

[edit] Applications in genetics

The de Finetti diagram has been put to extensive use in population genetics by A.W.F. Edwards in his book Foundations of Mathematical Genetics. In its simplest form the diagram can be used to show the range of genotype frequencies for which Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is satisfied. A.W.F. Edwards and C. Cannings extended its use to demonstrate the changes that occur in allele frequencies under natural selection.

[edit] References

• Cannings C., Edwards A.W.F. (1968) "Natural selection and the de Finetti diagram" Ann Hum Gen 31:421-428
• Edwards, A.W.F. (2000) Foundations of Mathematical Genetics, Cambridge University Press.

[edit] External links

• Online plotting of de Finetti diagrams for population genetics (also calculates Hardy weinberg equilibrium statistics)