Universal tree structures in directed polymers and models of evolving populations

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in large models of coalescence and evolution, the ratios of coalescence times become universal, revealing distinct universality classes regardless of specific model details.

Contribution

It identifies universal ratios of coalescence times across various models, establishing a classification into universality classes for evolving populations and directed polymers.

Findings

Ratios of coalescence times are universal in large models.

Distinct universality classes are identified.

Universality holds with and without selection.

Abstract

By measuring or calculating coalescence times for several models of coalescence or evolution, with and without selection, we show that the ratios of these coalescence times become universal in the large size limit and we identify a few universality classes.