Although studying genealogies is interesting in its own right, it is clear that the addition of genetics is fundamentally important for applying the simulation to problems relating to human origins. To this end, two independent genetics models have recently been added to the Genie application and are the subject of ongoing development. The reader is referred to the website for updated details and results related to the genetics models.

The first of these involves neutral genes only, and therefore is simply superimposed on the simulated genealogies without affecting in any way the survival or reproductive success of the carriers. Six loci in all are modelled: two on each of the Y chromosome, an autosome, and mitochondrial DNA. The second genetics model involves two alleles at a single locus and covers selection, dominance and mutation between the two alleles.

Each of these models is described in detail below, but first the modelling of genetics in the context of coalescent theory is presented, along with methods for estimating the mutation rate and time to the most recent common ancestor.

Finally, results of simulations that combine restricted and sex-specific migrations with both neutral and non-neutral genetics are shown and discussed.

Modelling genetics with coalescent theory

As for the earlier results, the theory relating to the simulated genealogies is best described by using coalescent theory, even when genetics is included.