Does Muller's ratchet work with selfing?

Abstract

The accumulation of deleterious mutations in a finite diploid selfing population is investigated. It is shown that the conditions for accumulation are very similar to those for the accumulation of mutations in an asexual population by ‘Muller's ratchet’. The ratchet is likely to operate in both types of population if there is a large class of slightly deleterious mutations. © 1978, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.