Molecular Evolution Activities
 

This is a comprehensive bibliography (under construction) of primary and secondary sources on the neutral theory of molecular evolution. It currently covers the period 1973-2001.

Author :

Foley, P.

Year :

1987

Title :

Molecular clock rates at loci under stabilizing selection

Journal :

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Volume :

84

Issue :

22

Pages :

7996-8000

Short Title :

Molecular clock rates at loci under stabilizing selection

Custom 3 :

88068522

Abstract :

Under stabilizing selection in a finite population, lambda, the rate of allelic substitutions at a locus is approximately lambda approximately mu(1 + S)-1/2, where mu is the mutation rate. S, the stringency of selection upon new mutants, is defined by S = NVm/Vs, where N is the population size and Vm/Vs is a measure of the average fitness decrease experienced by new mutants. The approximation holds both for a "lonely" locus, which is the sole provider of genetic variation for the character under selection, and for an "embedded" locus, which is not. In both cases I use the Crow and Kimura model of a continuum of alleles with Gaussian selection and mutation. Monte Carlo simulations corroborate the substitution rate formula. Some molecular evolution data suggest the potential utility and limitations of the formula for estimating population size, mutation, and selection parameters. This work agrees with the rest of nearly neutral theory in emphasizing the important role of population size for substitution rates.
 -- contributed by John Beatty, March 29, 2002