Rigorous results for a population model with selection I: evolution of the fitness distribution

Abstract

We consider a model of a population of fixed size $N$ undergoing selection. Each individual acquires beneficial mutations at rate $\mu_N$, and each beneficial mutation increases the individual's fitness by $s_N$. Each individual dies at rate one, and when a death occurs, an individual is chosen with probability proportional to the individual's fitness to give birth. Under certain conditions on the parameters $\mu_N$ and $s_N$, we obtain rigorous results for the rate at which mutations accumulate in the population and the distribution of the fitnesses of individuals in the population at a given time. Our results confirm predictions of Desai and Fisher (2007).