Molecular evolution and polymorphism in a random environment.

A model of multi-allelic selection in a random environment, the SAS-CFF model, is examined for compatability with allele frequency and genetic distance data acquired by electrophoresis. The symmetric version of the model tends to predict higher than observed levels of polymorphism unless substantial positive autocorrelations in the environment are postulated. The actual allele frequency configurations observed in nature are in rough agreement with those predicted by the SAS-CFF model. An approximate analysis of the transient properties of the SAS-CFF model shows that, in broad outline, the behavior is quite similar to that of the neutral model.