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 :

Sueoka, N.

Year :

1988

Title :

Directional mutation pressure and neutral molecular evolution

Journal :

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

Volume :

85

Issue :

8

Pages :

2653-7

Short Title :

Directional mutation pressure and neutral molecular evolution

Custom 3 :

88190126

Abstract :

A quantitative theory of directional mutation pressure proposed in 1962 explained the wide variation of DNA base composition observed among different bacteria and its small heterogeneity within individual bacterial species. The theory was based on the assumption that the effect of mutation on a genome is not random but has a directionality toward higher or lower guanine-plus-cytosine content of DNA, and this pressure generates directional changes more in neutral parts of the genome than in functionally significant parts. Now that DNA sequence data are available, the theory allows the estimation of the extent of neutrality of directional mutation pressure against selection. Newly defined parameters were used in the analysis, and two apparently universal constants were discovered. Analysis of DNA sequence has revealed that practically all organisms are subject to directional mutation pressure. The theory also offers plausible explanations for the large heterogeneity in guanine-plus-cytosine content among different parts of the vertebrate genome.
 -- contributed by John Beatty, March 29, 2002