Stochastic models of evolution in genetics, ecology and linguistics

Abstract

We give a overview of stochastic models of evolution that have found\napplications in genetics, ecology and linguistics for an audience of\nnonspecialists, especially statistical physicists. In particular, we focus\nmostly on neutral models in which no intrinsic advantage is ascribed to a\nparticular type of the variable unit, for example a gene, appearing in the\ntheory. In many cases these models are exactly solvable and furthermore go some\nway to describing observed features of genetic, ecological and linguistic\nsystems.\n