Population growth

[mythusmage]

At a starting population of 100 those people are going through one hell of a genetic bottleneck. A number of traits will be lost, others will be exaggerated. Now, any particular ethnic group or a mix?

 

[Nathal]

I've decided to start out with a number closer to 200. They are mostly of welsh decent.

 

[Roman]

Also, assuming that there's no further migrations to the area by other populations, it's literally true. You need 136 healthy people, evenly distributed between male and female, to avoid having to deal with "line breeding." It's not just Star Trek, and nor is it merely to avoid "kissing cousins." 1st cousins marrying, though a potential problem, is only the beginning. Even if you can avoid the appearance of a familial relationship, without at least that many people (or, as I mentioned, another population bringing in fresh blood), you'll eventually run out of lines that have not already bred together at least once, even if they're not 1st cousins.

May I ask to see the calculations why it is exactly 136 people and not say 128 people? I am interested in precisely why this is the tipping point. Also, what age distribution do you assume for these 136 people?

 

[mythusmage]

Speaking of genetic bottlenecks, in this posting A.E. Brain (real name) takes a look at a 70,000 year old near extinction event that may have reduced the population of H. sapiens to as low as 500 individuals. We seem to have made one hell of a come back.

 

[Malic]

Could clerics deal with genetic problems at all? Wouldn't they, at least some of the really serious ones, be like being born with a natural dex of 1 (0?), or having a very short maximum age - things that clerical magic can't help with?

Of course it all depends on what the gods are willing to do, but what do you think the RAW indicate?

If that is the case, while clerical magic would be a big help with infant mortality and thus increase the growth rate, it wouldn't overcome the minimum number of settlers needed.

 

[mythusmage]

The RAW don't know genes from poodle skirts.