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Nature 433, 23-24 (6 January 2005) | doi:10.1038/433023a; Published online 5 January 2005

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Evolutionary genetics:  Differentiation by dispersal

David W. Coltman1

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Gene flow between populations — caused by migration, for instance — is most often viewed as a homogenizing force in evolution. But two studies of wild birds and non-random dispersal find otherwise.

Whether or not two separate populations of a species become genetically different is thought to depend largely on gene flow. Classical population-genetics theory predicts that populations that frequently exchange individuals through dispersal will remain genetically similar1.

  1. David W. Coltman is in the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada.
    e-mail: Email: david.coltman@ualberta.ca

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