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Deleterious mutations in animal mitochondrial DNA

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Book cover Mutation and Evolution

Part of the book series: Contemporary Issues in Genetics and Evolution ((CIGE,volume 7))

Abstract

A simple neutral model predicts that the ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous fixed differences between species will be the same as the ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous polymorphisms within species. This prediction is tested with existing mitochondrial datasets from 25 animal species. In slightly over half of the studies, the ratio of replacement to silent polymorphisms within species is significantly greater than the ratio of replacement to silent fixed differences between species. These observations are best explained by a substantial number of mildly deleterious amino acid mutations that contribute to heterozygosity but rarely become fixed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Biosciences West Building, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Michael W. Nachman

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  1. Michael W. Nachman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA

    Ronny C. Woodruff

  2. University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA

    James N. Thompson Jr.

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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Nachman, M.W. (1998). Deleterious mutations in animal mitochondrial DNA. In: Woodruff, R.C., Thompson, J.N. (eds) Mutation and Evolution. Contemporary Issues in Genetics and Evolution, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5210-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5210-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6193-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5210-5

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