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 :

Yang, Z. H.;Nielsen, R.

Year :

1998

Title :

Synonymous and nonsynonymous rate variation in nuclear genes of mammals

Journal :

Journal of Molecular Evolution

Volume :

46

Issue :

4

Pages :

409-418

Date :

Apr

Short Title :

Synonymous and nonsynonymous rate variation in nuclear genes of mammals

Alternate Journal :

J. Mol. Evol.

Custom 2 :

ISI:000072696800007

Abstract :

A maximum likelihood approach was used to estimate the synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates in 48 nuclear genes from primates, artiodactyls, and rodents, A codon- substitution model was assumed, which accounts for the genetic code structure, transition/transversion bias, and base frequency biases at codon positions. Likelihood ratio tests were applied to test the constancy of nonsynonymous to synonymous rate ratios among branches (evolutionary lineages), It is found that at 22 of the 48 nuclear loci examined, the nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratio varies significantly across branches of the tree. The result provides strong evidence against a strictly neutral model of molecular evolution. Our likelihood estimates of synonymous and nonsynonymous rates differ considerably from previous results obtained from approximate pairwise sequence comparisons, The differences between the methods are explored by detailed analyses of data from several genes. Transition/transversion rate bias and codon frequency biases are found to have significant effects on the estimation of synonymous and nonsynonymous rates, and approximate methods do not adequately account for those factors. The likelihood approach is preferable, even for pairwise sequence comparison, because more-realistic models about the mutation and substitution processes can be incorporated in the analysis.

Notes :

Times Cited: 32 ZD540 J MOL EVOL
 -- contributed by John Beatty, March 29, 2002