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 :

Simon, C.;Nigro, L.;Sullivan, J.;Holsinger, K.;Martin, A.;Grapputo, A.;Franke, A.;McIntosh, C.

Year :

1996

Title :

Large differences in substitutional pattern and evolutionary rate of 12S ribosomal RNA genes

Journal :

Molecular Biology & Evolution

Volume :

13

Issue :

7

Pages :

923-32

Short Title :

Large differences in substitutional pattern and evolutionary rate of 12S ribosomal RNA genes

Custom 3 :

96364216

Abstract :

We demonstrate using Drosophila, periodical cicadas, and hominid primates, that the molecular clock based on animal mitochondrial small-subunit (12S) rRNA genes ticks at significantly different relative rates depending on which taxa and which region of the gene are examined. Drosophila, which are commonly used as model taxa, are evolving in a highly peculiar manner with the majority of sites in the 3' half of the 12S gene apparently invariant. The analogous 3' half of the mitochondrial large-subunit rRNA gene (16S) appears to be similarly constrained. It is surprising that these regions that are already highly constrained in all animals should be even more constrained in Drosophila, especially when the Drosophila mitochondrial genome as a whole does not display a similar rate slowdown. This extreme 12S rate slowdown is not apparent in periodical cicadas or hominid primates and appears to be related to strong structural and functional constraints rather than a depressed mutation rate. Finally, the slow average rate of evolution in the third domain of Drosophila does not imply that the few variable sites lack multiple hits.
 -- contributed by John Beatty, March 29, 2002