Neutral Evolution, Population Genetic Tests of

Tests of neutrality assess whether patterns of genetic variation are compatible with neutral evolutionary models. They have been successfully used for genome-wide selection scans, yielding important candidate genes for recent adaptation in humans and other species. Here, we present a short overview of commonly used tests of neutrality and the patterns of genetic variation on which they are based. Understanding the performance of particular neutrality tests under various demographic histories and types of selection is crucial for their correct interpretation. Therefore, we place particular emphasis on the specific assumptions of each test.